Chapter 21: Tarnished our name
"I have never siphoned any funds," Sara spoke firmly. "For the past six years, I have been nothing but honest in my role. If there is doubt, then the committee should order a full enquiry of the entire finance department, tracing every transaction from where this started. You’ve all seen my work over these years. Not once have I acted in a way that benefitted me personally. Falcone Industries has always been my priority."
Sara lowered her gaze slightly, then rested her eyes on the chairman. Across the table, the senior executive shifted his gaze toward Adam Falcone, awaiting his response.
"Your daughter is refuting the allegations, Mr. Falcone," Naomi Watson said with a sharp tone. She stepped forward with confidence, lifting the remote for the projector. A light spilled onto the screen. The projected image revealed documents marked with Sara’s signature, detailed proof of financial irregularities.
"The evidence clearly shows her involvement in fraudulent activity against the company," Naomi continued. "These actions have caused significant losses to our investors."
Sara’s breath caught. She stared at the documents glowing on the screen.
"I never put my signature on such documents. I have no idea how—" Sara’s voice broke slightly, but she quickly steadied herself.
"Then are you suggesting these signatures are forged?" Diego asked, leaning forward.
"That is a possibility," Sara replied firmly, rising to her feet. Her eyes scanned the room, locking briefly with each member of the committee before returning to her father.
"All these irregularities in my name began during the time I was fully occupied with a major construction project. If I had intended to commit fraud with investors’ money, that would have been the project I used, where millions of dollars were at stake. Yet, this fraud was carried out through a project that could be easily traced unless someone within the finance department deliberately concealed it from my knowledge."
She paused, swiping her gaze again at all of the committee members. "This wasn’t done by me. Someone wanted these documents to bear my name. That’s why a full inquiry must happen in the financial department."
"Well, there is an important person who reported this incident to Mr. Adam Falcone," Jordan Miller said. "This person is also a witness to how Miss Sara sold crucial company information to our rivals."
"A witness?" Sara murmured under her breath.
"Yes." Jordan’s eyes lingered on her for a moment before he glanced at his secretary. She stood without a word and walked briskly toward the door.
A few tense seconds later, the door opened again. A woman entered, whose presence immediately pulling Sara’s gaze and her eyes widening in shock.
It was none other than her best friend, Julia Miller, Jordan Miller’s own daughter.
Sara blinked, as though trying to reconcile the impossible.
"Julia," Jordan said firmly, "tell them what you heard and witnessed."
"A week ago, I overheard Sara telling someone that it would weaken the company... And that they could take control over it," Julia stated..
"Julia, why are you lying?" Sara’s voice snapped as she stepped forward, her wide eyes locked on her friend. "When did I ever say that?"
"I’m not lying," Julia insisted.
The boardroom fell into silence.
"Give us the evidence," Adam finally spoke.
Julia showed them a USB in her hand. "This contains the evidence, Mr. Falcone."
Adam’s secretary stepped forward and took the USB from Julia. He inserted it into the laptop before showing the contents inside on the projector.
There were emails that carried confidential project details. Everyone in the boardroom read them while Sara stood clueless.
"Because the detailed inquiry against Sara started yesterday, they found all of these being sent from Sara’s office email. They were in the trash folder of the email. So, our technical team could retrieve them with ease," Julia answered.
The floor beneath Sara’s feet slipped off.
"I never sent them," Sara insisted, keeping her voice steady.
"There are limits to lying, Miss Sara," one of the senior executives cut her off with disappointment. "Only you had access to your email account. Who else could it possibly be?"
Sara’s gaze instinctively shifted to her father. Adam Falcone’s face was contorted with anger. The trust he had always placed in her that she was his proudest heiress, seemed to wither in an instant.
Across the table, Diego leaned back in his chair, arms folded, a smirk tugging at his lips. His eyes glimmered with cruel satisfaction as he watched his sister’s world collapse.
’I wonder if they’ll call the police now,’ he thought. ’After all, Father’s always spoiled her. Time to see how far that love goes.’
"Someone is framing me," Sara said desperately. "I can’t tell you who yet, but—"
Adam’s palm slammed against the polished wood of the table, the sound reverberating through the room.
"Enough!" His eyes blazed with fury as he glared at her.
"You leaked the confidential projects of our company. You tarnished our name. How many more lies will you spew in front of me and this entire committee?"
Sara’s throat dried, the words she wanted to speak crumbling before they could leave her lips. She knew now no explanation could save her. She had no evidence in her hands to show that she was innocent.
"Mr. Falcone," Marina Giodarni began. She adjusted her glasses and leaned forward while her sharp eyes never leaving Sara. "It is a disgrace that your daughter did not think even once of you, or of this company’s legacy. Instead, she stood here and lied to us, shamelessly, without hesitation. We entrusted her with power, and this is how she repaid us."
Jordan Miller seized the moment. He said, "Since the truth is out, there is only one course of action left. Sara Falcone should be arrested immediately for corporate fraud and betrayal of Falcone Industries."
Sara’s gaze fixed at Jordan.
"You can take your lies to the court," he said. "You’ll have to answer for the losses the company suffered."
Jordan then signaled his secretary. The woman moved immediately, lifting the phone to call. At that instant, the boardroom doors swung open.
"Sorry for being late," Luca’s voice echoed in the boardroom.