“Exactly. Nine employees getting paid who don’t exist. That’s

payroll fraud.”

He whistled under his breath. “If that’s been happening for ten

years-”

“It’s a million–dollar bleed,” I finished. “Someone’s been

syphoning money by inflating the headcount.“‘

He began pacing. “This means someone inside the system-

maybe mid–level or even at the auditing stage–knows how to

manipulate the checks. The list goes through layers, but no one

really verifies every name manually at the top.”

“Which is why it never triggered a red flag until now,” I

murmured. “It’s disguised just enough to look clean, but the

numbers don’t lie.”

“We need to report this to Alpha Alexander,” Gai said

immediately.

I nodded. “Yes. But he’s going to be swamped with the alpha

summit tomorrow.”

Gai rubbed his temple. “Then?”

Chapter 5

“I’ll go to the factory,” I said. “In person. Quietly. If we can

identify who’s behind it before bringing it to Alexander, we’ll

have a stronger case.”

Gai looked at me with something between concern and respect.

“You’re serious.”

turned back

scrolling for more anomalies.

neither Olivia nor Gai noticed

out from a nearby

his fingers, forgotten, as

behind a glass

hardening with every

payroll error. It was a thread tied directly to something he

worked hard to bury.

they were pulling

Olivia’s POV

dinner ended later than

I caught

stiff, serious look etched across his

he… Drunk?” I

is,” Gai said beside me. “When he tapped his

fumbled twice. That man only misses

when he’s

eyebrows lifted. That didn’t quite match the Alpha’s usual control. But

under the streetlights–heels clicking,

focused. She reached Alexander quickly, her hand

had done it a

she said

the wine

Alexander didn’t hesitate. “No.”

He pulled his arm free,

even looking at her

to

hallway carpet was

too long on the edge. I saw his

dip slightly forward. Gai

We both reached out

faster.

her arms out, body tilting just enough

I held my

Chapter 35

a blur of movement, Alexander twisted

turned

hand caught my wrist so tightly

he pulled me toward

stumbled forward, crashing

and for a

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