The first sign was not dramatic; there were no public announcements, no confrontations, and no desperate speeches. The change appeared in numbers, and numbers had always been Evelyn's preferred language; she trusted accounts more than promises and contracts more than loyalty.
That was why Adrian immediately understood something was wrong when a routine financial review crossed his desk; he sat alone in his office late in the evening, studying reports that Marcus had quietly flagged for attention.
The city lights glowed beyond the windows; the office was silent, and for several minutes Adrian read through transaction summaries without reacting. Then he stopped, his eyes returned to a specific page, and a familiar company name appeared. The transaction itself was legal, but the amount involved was not unusual, as it was associated with one of Evelyn's private investment entities.
The destination account was legitimate, and nothing looked suspicious, except for the timing.
