Chapter 44 He Framed Me!
Athena’s eyes were cold as she watched the reactions of the group in front of her. They were all squirming now, their previous bravado vanishing as soon as they saw the consequences of their actions. Their attempts to justify themselves only made Athena more resolute.
She watched as they pleaded, each one trying to bargain their way out of the mess they had made. Some promised to pay the money back, others begged for mercy. But Athena wasn’t moved by their desperation. She had already seen their true colors. They were all just as corrupt as Carlos, each of them trying to save their own skin.
“Let’s get something straight,” Athena said, her voice cutting through the noise like a knife. “The money you’ve stolen won’t make up for your actions. You’ve betrayed the trust of this company, and for that, there will be consequences. I’m not here to coddle you or listen to your excuses. If you truly want to make things right, you’ll do more than just return the money. You’ll help us take down the rest of the network that’s been pulling the strings behind the scenes.”
The room fell silent as everyone processed her words. Some exchanged nervous glances, while others looked down in shame. They knew she was right. If they didn’t act quickly and decisively, they were going to face far worse than just losing their jobs.
Athena continued, “But make no mistake—this isn’t a free pass. If any of you fail to deliver, or if anyone tries to cover up their actions, I will make sure you face the full force of the law. You can’t hide from the truth forever.”
One man, visibly sweating, stood up. “Miss Newton, I—I’ll cooperate! I’ll help you with everything. I can even tell you who else has been involved.”
Athena gave him a sharp look. “You’d better,” she said, her tone low but threatening. “Anyone who tries to cover for Carlos or anyone else will regret it.”
Gideon, who had been standing quietly by the door, stepped forward and addressed the group. “Athena’s not bluffing. You’ve been caught, and now you have two choices. Cooperate fully, or face the consequences. There’s no middle ground.”
Several others in the room nodded vigorously, the reality of their situation finally sinking in. One by one, they started offering to return the money they had embezzled, each promising to make things right in their own way. But Athena wasn’t going to let them off that easily.
“Remember,” Athena said, her voice firm. “This isn’t about saving face. It’s about saving what’s left of your futures. If you want to avoid a criminal record, you’ll do everything in your power to expose the rest of the network. Otherwise, there won’t be any mercy.”
As the meeting came to an end, Matt hurriedly ushered everyone out. The room was filled with a heavy silence, each person retreating to their own thoughts about what was to come. The damage had been done, but Athena had made it clear that their fate was now in their hands.
Gideon stayed behind, watching the last of the senior leaders file out. When the door finally closed, he turned to Athena, his expression serious.
“You’ve handled this well,” he said, his voice low. “But you’re not done yet. The real challenge is still ahead. Getting the entire network to break isn’t going to be easy.”
Athena met his gaze steadily. “I know. But it has to be done. If we don’t take action now, we’ll all be buried under this corruption. And I’m not about to let that happen.”
Gideon nodded, a hint of respect in his eyes. “I see. You’re not just playing the game. You’re changing the rules.”
Athena gave a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Someone has to. And if it’s going to be me, then so be it.”
With that, she turned and walked out of the conference room, leaving Gideon to follow in her wake. The real work was just beginning, but Athena was ready. She’d come this far, and there was no turning back now.