NovelEnglish“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,” | 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 nmanually at the top.”
“Which is why it never triggered a red flag until now,” |
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.
| 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,” | 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 atwith something between concern and respect.
“You're serious.”
| didn’t answer. | just turned back to the screen and started
scrolling for more anomalies.
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What neither Olivia nor Gai noticed was the man who had
stepped out from a nearby booth just moments before. His
cigarette dangled between his fingers, forgotten, as he stood
frozen-only partially hidden behind a glass panel. His eyes
narrowed, face hardening with every word he overheard.
What Olivia and Gai had stumbled upon... wasn’t just a minor payroll error. It was a thread tied directly to
something he had
worked hard to bury.
And they were pulling it loose.
Olivia's POV
The dinner ended later than expected. The moment we stepped
out of the restaurant, | caught a glimpse of Alexander walking
ahead with a stiff, serious look etched across his face.
“Is he... Drunk?” | muttered, half to myself.
“Yes. He is,” Gai said beside me. “When he tapped his card to
check out just now, he fumbled twice. That man only misses the
mark when he’s been drinking.”
My eyebrows lifted. That didn’t quite match the Alpha’s usual control. But before | could reply, Jess suddenly
surged forward.
She looked radiant under the streetlights-heels clicking, her
pace brisk and focused. She reached Alexander quickly, her hand slipping through the crook of his arm with the
familiarity
of someone who had done it a hundred times before.
“Let's go back to my room,” she said in a light, persuasive tone. “I
saved the wine you like!”
Alexander didn’t hesitate. “No.”
It was sharp. Final. He pulled his arm free, stepping past her
without even looking at her face.
Jess faltered but tried to recover with a brittle smile.
The hotel hallway carpet was slightly uneven, and Alexander's
foot caught just a bit too long on the edge. | saw his weight shift,
his posture dip slightly forward. Gai and | were just a step
behind him. We both reached out instinctively-but Jess was
faster.
She stepped in with her arms out, body tilting just enough to
receive him. | held my breath.
Chapter 35
But then, in a blur of movement, Alexander twisted away from
her and turned towardinstead.
His hand caught my wrist so tightly that | yelped. In the same
motion, he pulledtoward him-and straight into Jess's space.
| stumbled forward, crashing awkwardly against her. My
forehead nearly bumped hers, and for a terrifying second, |
thought | was about to be forced into an accidental kiss. Jess
recoiled, furious, and shovedaside with a loud huff.
Alexander was already walking away like nothing had
happened.
| stood there, stunned, still tasting the tension in the air.
Jess glared atas if | were the pne
who'd planned it ik ReklsThe
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pivoted and she stormed off, muttering something under her
breath.
| watched her retreating figure disappear into the parking lot.
She looked somewhat envious.
She could walk away whenever she wanted. | couldn't. | was
still the new hire. Barely three days in.
| didn't have the durin Pnecshtent is
ORF. NOVO. com! Read the latest
chapter there!
of outbursts or exits. Not yet.
We all got into the car. | slid intq fhe
seat beside Alexander andT he
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the latest chapter there!
Gai sat in the front with the driver. My knee throbbed faintly,
remindingof the moment | had collided with Alexander's
shin as he jerkedforward.
Beside me, Alexander leaned against the car window. One hand
rested on his temple, his eyes closed. Calm. Untouchable. |
couldn't tell if he was asleep or just disinterested.
Neither would surprise me.
When we reached the hotel, | tried shaking him gently.
Nothing. | called his name. No response. Gai and | exchanged a
look.
With the help of a hotel attendant, we finally managed to lift
him out of the car and into his suite. | let Gai take most of the
weight while | limped slightly behind them.
Chapter 36
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