Chapter 256: Davis and his wife just returned...

While Davis and his wife were having a good rest after a long journey and work time, Desmond’s case was a stark contrast to their situation.

The morning sun filtered through the floor to ceiling glass windows and walls of the Allen Corporation’s executive conference room, casting cold shadows across the polished marble floor.

The air was sterile, perfumed faintly with fresh lavender fragrance and fresh coffee, but the tension beneath it was palpable.

Desmond Allen walked in, his tailored suit immaculate, his steps deliberate. His eyes swept over the seated board members made up of fifteen men and women whose loyalty he’d secured through years of careful manipulation, favors, and intimidation.

He took his seat at the head the table without greeting anyone. His assistant silently slid a stack of documents in front of him with the morning’s agenda tucked behind layers of reports.

Desmond’s fingers tapped against the glass desk, each beat calculated, his composure that of an emperor as his icy eyes scanned the faces of the members in silent appraisal.

"Let’s begin," he said curtly.

The COO, a slender man with sharp glasses and sharper instincts, cleared his throat. "Before we proceed to the quarterly review, there’s an item that’s come to our attention regarding project expenditures under Division 4C."

Desmond’s stern eyes settled on the man, his chest tightened, his hand paused briefly before resuming its action.

That division was one of his shadow budgets—used for siphoning funds under R&D cover and had long being concealed but bringing it up at this point is a clear indication that something had gone wrong.

Desmond’s lips curved into a thin smile. "4C is a confidential defense tech initiative in early-phase prototyping. We’ve used black-budget methods to protect IP. If you’re unfamiliar with the protocol, perhaps we can schedule a separate briefing."

He let the statement hang, daring them to question further. But this time he underestimated the reasons and positions of the board members.

Ms. Dexter, a fierce blonde lady from the Audit Committee leaned forward, a cold smirk playing on her lips.

4.2 million Dollars routed through a shell contractor that has no traceable operations. The invoice was approved

the case. He took a deep breath. "Like I said we trying our best to protect it and then adopted

black-budget operations. But those are usually signed off by a secondary authority. This one wasn’t. And our crosscheck

Silence followed.

slowly leaned back. "Are you questioning my authority

gaze. "No. I’m questioning whether this is about intellectual property

both of their eyes were locked in the air, the tension settling in the

board confidence, we should request

transparency," Desmond growled, his mask slipping

plus is because I

to diffuse the mood

around the board room, it was the usual agendas, familiar voices, but to Desmond,

in the reports being presented, the questions, the usual vagueness he instils seem to have no effect anymore and had

piercing clarity as department heads now came armed with crisp figures, complete with

were

throat, half-rising from his seat in greeting which also

just circulated. There

his brow twitching ever

error but in further investigation, it

the financial review."Desmond

cause of the anomaly in the board

well. One of the campaigns listed hasn’t been

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