Chapter 607
The main building of Callister Group was already buzzing with activity when Daven arrived. Staff members who passed him bowed respectfully, but he barely noticed any of them. His steps were steady as he headed straight for the private elevator, which carried him up to the executive floor.
It didn’t take long before the elevator doors slid open.
Outside, Arsen was already waiting, his expression serious. Behind him, the door to the main conference room stood slightly ajar..
“They’re inside,” Arsen said shortly.
Daven didn’t ask who he meant. He already knew exactly who was waiting for him.
The moment the conference room door opened, Chris and Richard were already seated inside. The long table at the center was covered with folders and documents. Several tablet screens displayed legal reports they had been reviewing.
Chris leaned back in his chair, but there was nothing relaxed about his expression. “You finally showed up,” he said when he saw Daven enter. “I thought you weren’t coming.”
Richard simply nodded politely. “We were just going over the latest developments.”
“If we weren’t dealing with lawsuits, I’d still be curled up under a blanket right now.”
Chris snorted. “Good grief. Should I just start looking for a partner already?” He glanced at Arsen. “I’m even behind you now. You’ve got a fiancée. And me?”
“Stop complaining,” Daven said, loosening the cuff of his shirt as he pulled out a chair at the end of the table and sat down without preamble. “Start from the beginning, Richard. I want to hear everything-no
details left out.”
“Of course, Mr. Daven.” Richard opened one of the folders in front of him. His tone remained professional, but the tension in the room was unmistakable.
“Let’s start with Harold.” He slid a document toward the center of the table. “The audit team managed to trace all the funds he hid through shell companies, and all of it leads back to one name.”
Chris smirked. “Who else but Bret Frederick? Am I right?”
“You are, Mr. Chris.” Richard adjusted his glasses. “The man wasn’t nearly clever enough to cover all his
tracks.”
He continued without missing a beat, flipping through the pages of his report. “The embezzlement- primarily carried out by Bret. His role was execution, while Harold was the mastermind. Harold has been taking a significant cut all this time. Their collaboration dates back to when Harold was still in prison last year.”
“He’s truly a cunning bastard,” Daven muttered, his hand tightening around the report Richard had
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handed him, crumpling the edges slightly. “Don’t let him breathe free air anytime soon. He needs to suffer in prison.”
“I’m certain it’s not just financial crimes that will bring Harold down,” Richard continued carefully. “The most serious charge will be the murder he orchestrated against-”
He hesitated, weighing his words.
The topic was too sensitive. Even now, no one in that room could easily accept the loss of someone they loved.
“Yes. I know,” Daven cut in with a heavy sigh. His expression darkened. “That’s why that case must be the primary charge against him. The others-his involvement with Nora and everything else he deliberately planned-can follow.”
Richard nodded. “Understood. As for Bret, the falsification of financial reports and market manipulation conspiracy alone are enough to corner him completely. The prosecution is already tracing the funds in several of his accounts. All of it will be seized.”
“And make sure everything that’s been seized is returned to where it belongs,” Daven said, leaning back in his chair. “Do we know the exact amount Bret embezzled?”
Richard answered without hesitation. “More than twenty million.”
Chris let out a low whistle. “That’s bold-even for a commissioner.”
Daven closed the document calmly. “I’m guessing he used most of it to pay off the people backing him.”
“Of course,” Chris said, settling more comfortably against the sofa. “I’ve already asked the external audit team to keep tracing Bret’s trail in JiangShe.”
“Thank you, Chris,” Daven said sincerely, before turning his attention back to Richard. “How long is he likely to get?”
Richard’s answer was concise. “If all charges are upheld, Bret faces a minimum of fifteen years. As for Harold, I intend to push for the maximum sentence-life imprisonment.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Chris crossed his arms. “That’s worth fighting for. I’m sure you can make it happen, Richard.”
Richard gave a faint smile. “Thank you for your confidence.”
Daven was about to speak when the conference room door opened. Someone stepped in casually.
All eyes turned toward the entrance.
Cale Miller.
He walked in wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His expression was as composed as ever, but his gaze immediately swept across the table covered in documents.
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“Looks like I made it just in time.”
Chris glanced at him. “You always show up after the most boring part is over.”
Cale pulled out a chair beside Daven and sat down without a care. “I don’t like long reports.”
He picked up one of the folders and flipped it open briefly. “So… based on your prosecution strategy, Harold is facing life imprisonment?”