Chapter 286
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Chapter 286:
“The IRS has broad discretion, Carmen,” he said, smiling. “If you were willing to let me buy you a drink tonight, I might be able to find a way to overlook this little discrepancy p>
A wave of nausea rolled through her. She looked at him with undisguised contempt.
“I will have my accountant send you the fully compliant medical receipts by tomorrow morning,” Carmen said, her voice like ice. “Get out of my office p>
Lynn’s smile disappeared. His face turned ugly. He snapped the folder shut. “Fine. I will initiate a full deep-dive audit of this hotel. I will freeze your operational accounts by Friday p>
Carmen shook with rage, but she was trapped. He had the federal government behind him.
Lynn stood, tossed a cheap business card onto her desk, and swaggered out of the office.
Carmen sank back into her chair, completely drained.
The door opened softly. Jocelyn walked in carrying two steaming cups of green tea. She took one look at Carmen’s pale face and the chaotic desk.
“Is the IRS giving you a hard time?” Jocelyn asked, her voice full of concern.
D𝗂𝘀с𝗼v𝗲r 𝗵𝗶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝗻 𝗴e𝗺ѕ 𝗼𝗇
Carmen glanced at the business card on the desk. She managed a weak, exhausted smile and shook her head. “It is nothing I cannot handle. Let us get back to the quarterly projections p>
Jocelyn set the hot tea on the edge of the desk. Her eyes caught the cheap, slightly crumpled business card resting near Carmen’s keyboard.
She picked it up, read the name, and glanced at Carmen’s pale, tense face. Without a word, she dropped the card into the metal trash can under the desk.
“If that man is harassing you,” Jocelyn said, her voice dropping to a serious, commanding tone, “the Collins legal team is on retainer. I will have five corporate sharks in this office by noon to rip him apart p>
Carmen let out a long, shaky breath and reached across the desk to squeeze Jocelyn’s hand. “Thank you. Truly. But I do not want to escalate this. I will handle the paperwork. I just need to focus p>
Before Jocelyn could argue, her cell phone vibrated sharply against the glass desk.
She frowned at the screen — an unknown Washington D.C. area code — and answered.
“Hello p>
“Aunt Jocelyn p>
The voice was small, trembling, and thick with tears. Aaden.
Jocelyn’s posture instantly softened. She tapped the speakerphone button and slid the phone to the center of the desk.
“Aaden, sweetheart, what is wrong?” she asked.
Carmen leaned forward, eyes wide. The sound of the little boy crying sent a sharp, physical ache straight through her chest.
“Can you… can you help me find Aunt Carmen?” Aaden sniffled.
Carmen practically lunged across the desk. “Aaden? I am right here. I am listening. Please do not cry p>
Aaden let out a long, shuddering breath. “I have a school play this weekend. I am the brave knight who protects the princess. But… but I do not have a mom to come watch me p>
Carmen’s heart stopped. The air left the room.