Chapter 3 - The Screen Said She Had Been Paid
Julian asked Tessa and Lucy to come with him.
His office occupied a quiet corner of the house behind a heavy wooden door. Inside were shelves of neatly organized documents and several computer screens connected to both his company and personal financial systems.
For years, Julian had considered the room a symbol of control.
That evening, it began to feel like evidence of how little he had actually been controlling.
He opened the estate payroll system.
Tessa Rowan.
Paid.
The previous pay period showed the same thing.
So did the one before it.
Every missed paycheck appeared in green letters as successfully completed.
Julian frowned.
“This says you’ve been paid.”
Tessa reached into her handbag and placed several printed bank statements on the desk.
“I haven’t.”
Julian clicked deeper into the latest transaction.
The destination account was not Tessa’s.
Her wages had been redirected into something labeled Mercer Household Reserve.
Julian felt a cold uneasiness settle over him.
Only three people had significant access to that account.
Julian himself.
Douglas Vane.
And Julian’s younger sister, Vivienne Mercer.
Vivienne had managed several family trusts and charitable projects since their father retired.
Julian opened the approval log.
Douglas’s credentials appeared first.
A second authorization appeared beside them.
V.M.
Julian stared at the initials.
“That can’t be right.”
He searched again.
Then he found something worse.
A folder titled STAFF CONTINUITY REVIEW contained several employee profiles.
Tessa’s name appeared near the top.
Beside it were notes.
“Limited financial flexibility.”
“Highly dependent on position.”
“Low likelihood of formal complaint.”
Julian read the last sentence twice.
May you like
This was no technical error.
Someone had intentionally identified the employees least likely to challenge what was happening.
