Page 7 of Indigo Deception
"You vouched for her, which is the reason she's in my office, and that's good enough for me." I turn back to Bennett. "When can you start?"
"Immediately."
"Good. You'll work directly under me." I stand, extending my hand. "Welcome aboard, Little Auditor."
That flash of irritation again. Perfect.
"Thank you, Mr. Bellanti."
Veronica excuses herself, and I instruct Bennett to return in an hour after clearing security protocols. After she leaves, I pull up herbackground check again on my tablet. Everything seems legitimate, but something about her doesn't quite add up. I can't place it yet.
My private line rings. I pick it up.
"The Vietnamese shipping company tried to back out," says Leonardo, one of my consultants on the other end. One of our business rivals has been undermining a key Bellanti operation.
I take a sip of my coffee. "Transfer their pension fund assets to our Cayman account. Then liquidate their personal holdings—all of them. Route the proceeds through the Singapore exchange, then disappear them."
"Their children's trust funds too?"
"Especially those. Make sure nothing can be traced."
"Consider it done."
I end the call just as my door opens again. Bennett stands there, documents in hand.
"Ms. Reeves asked me to deliver these to you," she says, hesitating at the door.
I wonder how much she heard. "Come in."
She approaches my desk, placing the folders down. I take another sip of coffee, studying her over the rim.
"You see, Ms. Bennett," I say casually, "some people need to learn that betrayal has consequences. Don't you think?"
Something flickers in her eyes.
"I imagine in your line of work, consequences are unavoidable," she replies carefully.
"In any line of work," I correct. "But especially mine." I slide the folders to the side. "Two hours, Ms. Bennett. My office. I'll introduce you to the team working on our Singapore..situation."
She nods, that severe bun not moving a millimeter. "I'll be here."
After she leaves, I pull up the security feed, watching her walk down the hallway to the elevators. Perfect posture. Measured steps. She looks like someone who's always in control.
I smile to myself. I do so enjoy breaking down people's carefully constructed facades. Finding what lies beneath the surface. And something tells me Sarah Bennett is hiding quite a lot beneath her professional armor.
This should be interesting.
Not as interesting as figuring out who's trying to compromise our Singapore operations, of course.
But definitely a close second.
4
Gianna
Ican'tsleep.
The full moon shines brightly through my apartment window, casting long shadows on my bed.
