Chapter 4 - The Audit War
By 6:00 AM, Darwin sat in his top-floor executive office at Worthington Tower. Spread across his desk were dossiers containing Sydney’s current life details: she owned a boutique floral and event design company with Claire, lived in Noe Valley, and had raised twin children alone on a tight budget.
A soft knock sounded, and Mark, his head of security, walked in alongside Arthur Vance—Darwin’s chief legal counsel and, uncomfortably, Phoebe’s uncle.
"Is the audit ready?" Darwin asked without preamble.
"Darwin," Arthur said cautiously, closing the door. "Phoebe called me weeping last night. Your uncle Decker has already convened an emergency board meeting for 10:00 AM to question your mental stability and fitness as CEO."
"Let him," Darwin said coldly. "Arthur, did you look at the St. Jude Reproductive Clinic files I requested?"
Arthur hesitated, pulling a red folder from his briefcase. "We subpoenaed the clinic's internal accounting from six years ago through an emergency petition overnight. There are three wire transfers totaling $2.5 million from a shell company registered in the Cayman Islands—a company directly tied to Decker Worthington’s private foundation. The transfers were completed forty-eight hours before Dr. Harrison issued Sydney’s infertility diagnosis."
Darwin closed his eyes, feeling the crushing weight of the absolute truth. "It was all Decker."
"Yes," Arthur admitted quietly. "Your uncle bribed Harrison to falsify the lab results. Sydney was completely healthy."
"I want Harrison arrested by noon," Darwin ordered, standing up. "And I want Decker stripped of all voting rights before the board meeting begins."
"If you launch this war, Darwin," Arthur warned, "the Worthington stock will plunge. The media will tear your personal life apart. And Phoebe..."
"Phoebe knew for months and helped conceal a crime," Darwin replied sharply. "Tell her my lawyers will serve her with annulment papers by the end of the week."
May you like
Arthur sighed, realizing there was no turning back. "And Sydney?"
"She won't talk to me," Darwin said softly, staring out the window at the San Francisco skyline. "I have to make her listen. But first, I have to dismantle the empire that hurt her."
