Chapter 7 - The Missing Payroll
The false payroll records covered three years.
Caregivers who had resigned were still listed as employees.
Overtime was billed but never paid.
Medical transportation charges appeared for appointments Eleanor never attended.
Millions had disappeared through a company registered to Victoria’s brother.
Victoria called them administrative errors.
Leah placed the records beside the silver pole.
“Poor workers make mistakes.”
She looked directly at Victoria.
“Rich people create administrative errors.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
The difference was not the action.
It was who could afford better language.
Eleanor’s night aide had lost her health insurance after being dismissed.
Victoria’s brother had purchased a vacation property two months later.
Ethan whispered:
“I didn’t know.”
Leah looked at him.
“You keep saying that as if not knowing happened to you.”
Silence.
“You were the CEO.”
“You had assistants.”
“You had reports.”
“You had every opportunity to ask.”
Ethan did not defend himself.
That mattered.
Then the trust auditor found another transfer.
The missing payroll had not only enriched Victoria’s family.
Part of it had funded Ethan’s executive bonus.
He stared at the number.
“I never knew where that money came from.”
May you like
Eleanor answered:
“But you spent it.”
