CHAPTER 415: FINANCIAL THEFT

Stanley gripped the phone receiver, his knuckles turning white. The cheerful ring of an incoming call felt like a hammer blow to his already frayed nerves. He glanced at the display - his sister's name flashed mockingly. With a sigh that rattled the phone in its cradle, he let it go to voicemail. Pushing away from his desk, Stanley shuffled to the mahogany filing cabinet across the room. Its polished surface reflected the stark reality of the spreadsheet pulled up on his computer screen: a jagged red line marking a terminal decline, the company's financials bleeding out onto the virtual page. Bankrupt. The word echoed in his mind, a hollow knell. He ran a hand through his already messy hair. He needed a clear head and someone to brainstorm with. Stanley snatched the phone back up and punched in a number. A brisk efficiency replaced his earlier despondency. "Get Lillian in here, now," he barked into the receiver, his voice tight with urgency. He slammed the phone down, the click a pu