After 10 Years as Secretary, I’m the Boss

Chapter 3

By noon, I'd finished organizing the files. I checked the time. Twelve o'clock. Lunch break.

I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

Julian blocked my path. "Evelyn, enough of this. There's an important gala coming up. Victoria's parents are flying in to discuss strategic investment. It's make-or-break for Grant next year. You'll lead the coordination. Put on the event like you always do—same standard as before." He lowered his voice.

I stared at him, at that entitled look on his face. "Mr. Grant, that's a separate rate."

"Is money all you care about? The company has supported you for ten years, and now when we ask you to do your job, you want to negotiate pay?" Julian snapped.

I didn't bother responding. I stepped around him and pushed through the glass doors.

Victoria let out a cold laugh and pulled a stack of financial reports from her bag. "Julian, don't beg her. I went through the company books today, and I found something major."

Coming before me, she slammed the reports down on the front desk, papers scattering everywhere. "Evelyn, even if you're leaving, you're going to explain this first."

She tapped a line item with one perfectly manicured finger. "Your monthly event budget reimbursement is $30,000. But I checked market rates for the summits you used to run. $30,000 wouldn't even cover a fraction of the venue costs. Are you cooking the books to take kickbacks?"

The whole office went dead quiet. Monica clutched her chest, her face draining of color. "No wonder the foundation's numbers never added up. So this is where it's been going?"

Harold frowned as well. "Evelyn, tell us the truth. Where were those resources really coming from?"

I looked at the papers scattered across the floor and felt nothing but absurdity.

$30,000? Grant's annual event budget—$300,000 wouldn't even cover it.

For ten years, I'd covered the shortfall out of my own pocket. Because Robert had saved my father's life, I'd promised him I'd keep Grant safe and steady for ten years.

"Did you actually reach out to the venue vendors?" I asked calmly.

"Why would I need to? The numbers don't lie. I have already removed that vendor from the approved list. Starting today, all event spending requires my personal approval." Victoria looked positively smug.

I nodded. "Great. Enjoy your new vendors."

Victoria thought she finally had dirt on me. "Since you're not even denying it, we won't call the police—out of respect for your ten years here. But you will pay back every cent you embezzled. And you're fired. Pack your things and go, now."

Julian's brow furrowed. "Vicky… maybe we should give her another chance. Don't you think?"

Victoria was not having it. "Julian, are you defending her? She's been stealing from this company for a decade!"

Monica added fuel to the fire. "Exactly. Ten years and we raised a thief. Keep her around, and who knows what else she'll do."

I'd actually considered, out of respect for Robert, warning them about the Starlight Tech licensing issue before I left.

Now? It didn't seem necessary.