$30 million dollars?
This global bank is about to go to war with me.
How am I going to even be able to pay that back? The number is absolutely ridiculous.
Especially because after my Starbucks today I only have $347.14 in my checking account.
I wonder if Carter Jeffries does a 7,000-year payment plan.
Derek
$30 million dollars.
That’s how much was stolen from me, and at this point in time, I honestly could care less.
After months of searching and gathering evidence, I’ve finally found the thief. But again, I couldn’t care less.
I stand up and look at her—this woman who has literally stolen a fortune from me.
“Before you say another word,” I say looking at her. “Let me just go ahead and tell you that I’ve called over NYPD and Preston Cabot. I suggest the next words out of your mouth be the truth, Nadia.”
Nadia looks at me with alarm and I hear a sharp intake of breath.
That must be Alicia. She must be going out of her mind. I figure once we’re done here, she will probably be pretty mad at me, you know?
And you know what? I’m not happy about it. I love her. I meant what I said when I told her that I needed her in my life. I can’t live without her.
But the only way we were going to get out of this entire situation was for her to play the part that she fell into. I never wanted her to have to go through this. But she dove in, and I had to let her see it through.
You have no idea actually what I’m talking about, do you?
Fine, let me make it a bit clearer.
Just then, the door opens and an uniformed police officer walks in along with the Chairman and CEO of Carter Jeffries.
Nadia’s eyes grow wide and she gets up from her chair.
But before she can do or say anything, Preston Cabot – the lion of Wall Street – speaks up.
“Just stay right where you are, Ms. Moore,” he says sharply. “We’ll do this quietly to avoid as much embarrassment as possible as long as you cooperate. But make things difficult and I have no problem marching you out the floor in handcuffs.”
Nadia seems to think better of her situation. She’s still flustered and looks at me.
But I’m looking at Alicia. Poor girl looks like she’s about to faint, but she’ll be okay.
Satisfied at how strong Alicia is to cope with all this, I turn my attention back to Nadia.
“Yes, Nadia,” I say to her with a bit of a sneer. “I knew from the very beginning that the embezzlement was happening from Carter Jeffries.”
Nadia is silent. This is a fucking wise move as I get up and walk over to
her. “What I didn't realize was that it was coming from right in the Private Client department. I mean, I thought maybe it was happening somewhere in the operational side – the traders or programmers who execute all the trades,” I say to her as she remains still. “I thought for sure it had to be someone who was getting legitimate instructions and then siphoning off cash. That it was someone who worked at your level and broke the system internally never occurred to me until Alicia started dropping hints and asking pointed questions.”
Nadia looks over sharply at Alicia and I can see a whole new level of startled go through that girl’s face.
“That’s right, Nadia,” I say aloud. “Alicia figured out what was going on, but a little faster than you thought she would. She found out some improper classifications of trades and most likely didn't realize that they were just placeholders. You classified trades and deposits as happening in Iran and North Korea, but it was actually just moving to your own bank account.”
Nadia flinches. It’s just dawning on her the extent to how much I know what’s going on.