Chapter 10
When the door clicked shut behind Julian, Director Vance remained seated for a long moment, staring at the blank monitor. Finally, he looked up at Elena, his expression softened by a mixture of professional respect and genuine embarrassment. "I owe you an apology, Elena," Vance said quietly, folding his hands on the desk. "I let corporate convenience cloud my judgment. What he did was despicable." Elena uncrossed her arms, letting out a long, quiet breath. "Thank you, Director. I just want to do my job and protect my family." Vance nodded slowly. "Your audit findings will be handed over to the federal investigators by the end of the day. As for your position, I want you to step into Julian’s former role as senior financial director. The salary comes with a significant bump, and quite frankly, you've earned every penny." Elena blinked in surprise, the weight of the past few days suddenly lifting off her shoulders. "I... thank you, Director. I appreciate the trust." She turned toward the door, her heart feeling lighter than it had in months. As she walked back down the hallway to her desk, her colleagues looked up again, but this time their expressions held a new kind of cautious respect. The storm had finally broken, leaving behind a clean and steady horizon.
