Ben Carter, CEO of CMC, sat in the boardroom. Having made a firm resolve he called for an emergency board meeting. It was 10:30 a.m. on that gloomy Monday, and the tension in the air was high.
In a quick procession, the executives assembled. Some members looked visibly anxious. The rest of them tried to mask their nerves. They were aware that the coming revelations could reshape the company's destiny.
Ben began, with steady and firm voice, he spoke. "Our only agenda for today's meeting is to address the recent development. This isn't merely about financial irregularities. It has to do with integrity: our integrity." He took a pause. Eyes were narrowing as he casted looks at the members one after another. The surveillance logs, email transcripts, including the secret files which were earlier retrieved from the company's servers had portrayed a damning picture.
The first evidence laid bare was about the dubious financial dealings by Dan Stratton, the CFO, and Arthur Turner, the COO. Both were senior executives.
Their fingerprints could be found all over shell companies including manipulated ledger entries concealing millions of dollars siphoned from CMC's accounts. Above all, discussions indicating an alliance that went far beyond ordinary business strategies were discovered hidden in emails that were encrypted.
But what shocked everyone more was the link to Rhodes Carter, the former CEO of the organization, whose murder six months prior had remained a mystery yet to be resolved.
Found hidden in a secret report was a chilling connection. The same fraudulent activities orchestrated by Dan and Arthur bore the fingerprints of someone with a motive directly related to Rhodes Carter's death.
Tension grew higher as the evidence was laid out.
On a large screen, images and documents flickered: bank transfer records, encrypted chat logs, and a photograph of a clandestine meeting. The image revealed Dan and Arthur exchanging documents with a known rival firm, Stratagem Global, whose CEO, Victor Amos, had long been considered CMC's fiercest competitor.
Ben preceded further, voice now edged with a mixture of anger and desolation. "They've not just been embezzling funds; they collaborated with our opponents. And the shocking link to Rhodes? It indicates that these actions are linked to his murder. Someone made hectic efforts to prevent the truth about the monumental fraud from coming to light."
The boardroom erupted into chaos. Dan, who was visibly trembling, stood abruptly, raising his voice in protest. "This is nothing but a setup! I demand to be told who's planting those lies. Rhodes Carter's death was a tragedy. There wasn't any proof that any of us were involved."
Arthur, on the other hand, was trying to create a scene; wailing about conspiracy and betrayal. "Someone is railroading us! The timing is just too perfect. What of the real criminals? What you're pinning on us has no concrete evidence!"
While the two executives kept making desperate attempts to derail the investigation, they were not aware that Ben had invited men of the Federal Economic and Financial Crime Enforcement Network (FEFCEN).
All of a sudden the sound of reinforced doors unlocking interrupted the storm of accusations.
Men from the FEFCEN entered, their presence intimidating.
The leading senior officer, clad in a dark tailored suit, stepped forward. "Ben Carter, you and your board members are under investigation. But these individuals," he pointed to Dan and Arthur, "are under arrest for fraud, conspiracy, and complicity in the heinous murder of Rhodes Carter."
The tension in the room erupted into chaos. Dan lunged toward one of the officers, knocking over a chair in the process. He made a futile attempt to escape. Arthur became desperate and started pleading, "This isn't right! Someone is framing us!"
But the officers were swift enough to restrain them. Handcuffs clicked shut. Dan's protests transformed into quiet sobs. Arthur remained defiant until the very end. He continued shouting accusations about corporate espionage and government interference.
Ben watched with mixed feelings; a mixture of relief and sadness. The unveiling had shattered the facade of trust in CMC. He was quite aware the ramifications would ripple through the industry: a scandal of this magnitude would certainly threaten to topple careers. Even shareholder confidence would be shaken to its core.
As the men from FEFCEN led the two executives out of the room, the remaining board members reminded in stunned silence. Ben inhaled deeply, trying to steady his nerves. The clandestine alliance, the fraudulent schemes, plus the guilt tied to Rhodes Carter's murder, everything was now exposed.
In the aftermath, Carter Media embarked on a recalibration. Independent investigation was launched. However, unanswered questions persisted: who else had hands in the nefarious activities? How deep was this conspiracy? And what kind of justice awaited Rhodes Carter's memory?
Stories of betrayal, greed, and murder warned all and sundry in the industry. In the high-stakes world of corporate power, secrets could kill. And often, truth remained the most dangerous weapon of all.