Chapter 221

The conference room was packed.

Every seat was taken by accounting officers and senior accountants from different branches of the Wyndham companies.

The long table stretched across the room, polished and reflecting the bright lights above. Files, tablets, and notebooks were arranged neatly in front of each person, yet no one was truly focused.

The chief accountant sat at the far end of the table, his back straight but his expression clearly bored. He checked his wristwatch again and again, the movement might be small but it was obvious.

Gabriel had personally rescheduled this meeting for early this morning, and yet, he had not arrived. That alone made many people uneasy.

Low conversations filled the room. Some people whispered to one another. Others leaned closer, pretending to discuss work, but their eyes darted around nervously.

Most of the accountants present were not even from the main Wyndham Holdings branch. They were from other Wyndham companies spread across different sectors.

Gabriel rarely called meetings like this. But when he did, it was usually with directors or top executives, not accountants.Before now, he had planned to meet with the auditors, since they were the ones who first discovered the missing funds. At the time, he believed it was a matter he could handle on his own-quietly and without drawing attention.

But now, things have taken an unexpected turn. The issue was no longer simple, and it was no longer private. And now, here they were, facing a situation far more complicated than he had ever anticipated.

This meeting was different. And everyone could feel it.

Some of them wondered why they were here. While others already feared they knew the reason.

***

Inside his office, Gabriel sat behind his desk, deeply focused on a document Mia had just handed to him.

The paper was thick, filled with numbers, codes, dates, and transaction trails. It had been sent suddenly by the accountant of the Wyndham Trust. Mia had brought it in the moment it arrived, sensing its importance.

She believed it could finally lead them to the missing funds.

Gabriel’s eyes moved carefully from line to line. His brows slowly pulled together as he read. The deeper he went into the document, the heavier his expression became. His mind worked too fast, connecting figures, tracingmovements, and spotting patterns that were not meantto be seen.

Someone had been very careful about this.

A soft knock sounded on the door. Before Gabriel could respond, the door opened.

Stone walked in quickly, his strides fast and purposeful.

Jude followed closely behind him, his face serious.

“Sir, they are all here,” Jude reported.

Stone spoke immediately after, his voice low and clipped.” Everything is set, sir. We are ready.”

Gabriel lifted his head slowly and nodded once.

He stood up from his chair, with calm movements and control. He gathered the documents on his desk, straightened them, and opened a drawer. Carefully, he placed the document inside and shut it.

Mia stood up as well. No one said another word.

They all walked out together.

Minutes later, they arrived at the conference room.

Jude moved ahead and pushed the door open, stepping aside respectfully.

Gabriel walked in first, Mia right beside him.

The moment the door opened fully, the room went silent.Every single person stood up immediately.

Some faces showed shock. Some showed relief. Others showed fear they could not hide.

“Good morning,” Gabriel said, his voice calm and almost cheerful. “Please, kindly sit down.”

Despite his polite tone, no one sat until Gabriel and Mia took their seats.

Only then did everyone lower themselves back into their chairs.

Jude placed a tablet in front of Gabriel and stepped back, taking his seat at the back of the room. Stone stood close to the wall, his sharp eyes scanning every face, and every movement.

Gabriel turned on the tablet. The screen lit up softly.

Then he raised his head and looked around the room.

One by one, his eyes met theirs.

If Stone was right, someone sitting in this room had sent him that message yesterday. Someone had the boldness to threaten him. That someone better make another mistake today because Gabriel wouldn’t mind locking everyone of them up if need be.

Gabriel knew one thing, if that person is here, it means that person was connected to the missing funds.Still, his thoughts did not stop there.

Could one person do this alone?

These people had worked for Wyndham companies for years. Some for four years. Some for six. Some for over ten years. They had grown within the company. They had earned trust.

Gabriel had never had a reason to question them before.

The thought that one—or more—of them could be betraying the company now was deeply disappointing.

But disappointment would not stop him.

So, finally, he spoke.

“Yesterday,” Gabriel began, his voice steady and clear, ” mentioned the issue of missing funds.”

The room felt heavier instantly.

“I am certain my assistant has already passed the documents to every one of you,” he continued. “I want you all to study them carefully.”

He paused, letting his words sink in.

“I want to know what happened. Every detail. I need a clean and clear explanation.”

Some people shifted in their seats, trying to avoid his eyes.

Gabriel’s gaze hardened slightly, though his voiceremained calm.

“These funds did not disappear by magic,” he said. “Money does not vanish on its own.”

The silence in the room grew thicker.

“And until I get answers,” Gabriel added, “this matter is far from over.”