Chapter 219 - 5: The doctor’s diagnosis
Moments after Killian left, Steve stepped into the office. As soon as the door shut, the vertical blinds closed automatically, and the act Steve and Nathaniel were putting up stopped.
Nathaniel went back to his chair behind the desk while Steve stood before it after bowing at him. The cold and calculating aura Nathaniel normally had went back, as if the remnants of his light chuckle were just a dream.
"Any new developments?" Nathaniel asked, his voice low but firm.
Steve straightened, taking a deep breath. "Nothing substantial yet, sir, but there are too many inconsistencies in the financial reports. It’s too clean, too perfect. If someone is embezzling funds, they’ve covered their tracks well."
Nathaniel leaned against the desk, arms crossed over his chest, his sharp eyes scrutinizing Steve. "So, it means the embezzlement is deeper than we thought."
Steve nodded. "Yes. I’ve been reviewing the expense reports and budget allocations for the last quarter. On the surface, everything looks in order, but the numbers don’t add up when compared to the actual project outcomes. There’s a significant discrepancy between the reported earnings and what’s being funneled into external accounts."
"How about the Payroll Division?" Nathaniel asked. He was the one in charge of monitoring the Payroll Division since a large sum of money was entering the division twice every month, and it would be the easiest target to steal money from.
However, with all the employees in every company he had to check into, Nathaniel couldn’t handle it alone.
Overseeing the construction of the Horizon company building was just an excuse. He could have designated someone to watch over it, but upon receiving reports of possible corruption ongoing in many subsidiaries, he had to come personally and take over.
Steve shook his head. "So far, I didn’t find anything suspicious, sir."
Nathaniel narrowed his eyes, processing the information. "We need to find out who’s behind this. The board has its suspicions, but without solid evidence, we’re stuck. For now, monitor the employees who have authority over signing and releasing cheques. Discreetly."