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."