CHAPTER 2 — THE SECRET BEHIND THE DONATIONS
Victoria stepped backward as the investigators approached.
“This is ridiculous,” she said. “Those records are fabricated.”
Alexander remained calm.
“The transfers came from the charity’s emergency housing fund.”
“I don’t control that account.”
“You approved every withdrawal.”
Victoria glanced toward the head table.
Her husband, Senator Richard Langford, had been sitting there all evening.
But his chair was empty.
He had disappeared during the confrontation.
One of the investigators noticed it too.
“Where is Senator Langford?” she asked.
Victoria said nothing.
Alexander looked toward the exit.
“Seal the ballroom.”
Security moved immediately.
The main doors closed.
Guests began whispering nervously, realizing the scandal was much larger than a cruel woman insulting an elderly guest.
Leah stayed beside Evelyn.
“Are you all right?” she asked quietly.
Evelyn nodded.
“I’ve survived worse than arrogance.”
There was something in Evelyn’s voice that made Leah look at her more closely.
This wasn’t simply an investigation for her.
It was personal.
Alexander walked toward the stage.
“For the past eighteen months, nearly thirty million dollars has disappeared from housing programs intended for elderly residents and low-income families,” he announced. “The money was moved through private consulting companies and luxury development projects.”
Pictures of neglected apartment buildings appeared on the screen.
Broken elevators.
Mold-covered walls.
Elderly tenants sleeping beneath leaking ceilings.
Leah’s stomach tightened.
She recognized one of the buildings.
“My mother lives there,” she whispered.
Evelyn turned toward her.
“The Harbor View Apartments?”
Leah nodded slowly.
“The heat stopped working last winter. Management kept promising repairs, but nothing happened.”
Alexander overheard her.
He looked at the screen, then at Victoria.
“Harbor View received four million dollars for repairs.”
Victoria’s jaw tightened.
“The contractor failed to complete the work.”
“The contractor was owned by your husband’s campaign manager.”
A gasp moved through the crowd.
Victoria suddenly lunged toward Leah.
“You,” she hissed. “This happened because you couldn’t mind your own business.”
She reached for Leah’s arm, but security stepped between them.
Leah didn’t flinch.
“No,” Leah said. “This happened because you thought no one important was watching.”
The words echoed through the ballroom.
For the first time that evening, guests began applauding.
It started with one person.
Then another.
Within seconds, nearly the entire ballroom was on its feet.
Victoria stared at them in disbelief.
These were the same people who had once laughed at her insults, accepted her invitations, and praised her generosity.
Now they were turning away from her.
An investigator placed Victoria under arrest for fraud, conspiracy, and misuse of charitable funds.
But as they led her toward the doors, she smiled.
“You think you’ve won?” she said to Alexander. “Richard has the original files.”
Alexander’s expression hardened.
“What files?”
“The documents proving your company approved the development deals.”
Alexander went still.
Victoria leaned closer.
“When those files become public, no one will believe you were investigating us. They’ll believe you were our partner.”
The ballroom doors opened.
A man in a black coat hurried inside and whispered something to Alexander.
Alexander’s face changed.
“What happened?” Evelyn asked.
“The senator’s plane left twenty minutes ago,” Alexander replied.
“Where is he going?”
The man handed him a tablet.
The flight plan appeared on the screen.
Leah recognized the destination before Alexander spoke.
“Harbor View,” she whispered.
Alexander looked at her.
The apartment building where Leah’s mother lived was located near a private airfield.
Then Leah’s phone rang.
It was her mother.
Leah answered immediately.
“Mom?”
All she heard was coughing.
Then her mother whispered:
May you like
“Leah… there’s smoke in the hallway.”
The call went dead.
