My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 128

Chapter 128: Fishy transactions

The next day…

Ava entered Dylan’s office. The moment she stepped in, Dylan’s lips curved into a soft, almost imperceptible smile. The sight of her was like a gust of fresh wind carrying a sweet aroma.

Last night had been a mess—Dylan regretted not looking into her likes and dislikes sooner. But today, he was determined to make things right.

Ava noticed the smile, and it made her uneasy. She had been seeing that smile too often lately, and it stirred something within her that she wasn’t ready to confront. With a deep breath, she shook off the fluttering feeling in her chest and straightened her posture. She made a serious look as she stepped forward.

“I need to talk to you about something,” she said with a grave tone.

Dylan didn’t seem to notice the weight of her tone. “Have a seat first.” He gestured to the chair across from him. His movements were smooth and practiced as he reached for the intercom. “Would you like some coffee?”

“I don’t need anything,” Ava responded curtly.

However, he didn’t listen to her. “If not coffee, then juice,” he said with a smile, already dialing the number for the office assistant. “Get coffee for me, and a fresh lime juice for Ava. Make it quick.”

He put the receiver down and looked up at her, only to meet her cold gaze.

Her frustration simmered beneath her calm exterior. She didn’t want to indulge him. “I said I didn’t need anything,” she repeated, her tone a little sharper this time.

“Lime juice will keep you fresh.” He smiled as if trying to lighten the mood, unaware that his persistence was pushing her further away.

Ava’s lips pressed together in a thin line. She had come here for a reason, but his casual attitude was starting to get under her skin.

Ava fought the urge to roll her eyes, her patience thinning. But she reminded herself to focus on the pressing matter at hand.

“I need to show you something.” She slid a file across the table toward him. “I’ve compiled a list of suspicious transactions over the years. The company’s funds have been flowing into several unlisted and unauthorized NGOs. It looks suspicious—someone might be misusing the money.”

Dylan’s demeanor shifted almost instantly as he began to skim through the details in the file. His face tightened as he processed the numbers. He hadn’t known about these payments. Irritation flared within him. These funds had been moving through the company, and yet he had had no idea.

“Each transaction was approved by the former COO,” Ava continued, “but there is no proper documentation to justify the funding. Moreover, these organizations don’t even exist. This is a serious issue. You need to resolve it quickly, or both you and the company could face severe consequences.”

Dylan’s annoyance was rising as he continued checking the rows of transaction details. How had something like this slipped under his radar for so long? These shady dealings had been happening right under his nose. If Ava hadn’t brought it to his attention, he might have never known.

He was grateful for Ava, and his admiration for her increased even more. But annoyance lingered in the back of his mind. He would track down what was happening under the shadow, but he refused to make Ava worry about it.

“Alright, I’ll check on it,” he said flippantly, closing the file. When he looked up at her, his smile returned. “Don’t let it trouble you.”

Ava blinked, stunned by his dismissive attitude. She had expected him to take this seriously, but his flippancy threw her off balance. This wasn’t something that could be brushed aside so easily. Was he pretending not to care, or had he known about it all along? Doubts began to cloud her mind.

The door opened, and a woman entered, carrying a tray with a steaming cup of coffee and a glass of lime juice. Her presence broke the tension in the room. She greeted them with a polite smile. After serving the coffee to Dylan and the juice to Ava, she nodded respectfully and left, the door clicking softly shut behind her.

“Have the juice first,” Dylan said casually, picking up his coffee and taking a leisurely sip.

Ava’s irritation flared, her patience snapping like a taut string. “I am not in the mood to relax. I’ve pressing matters to deal with.” She pushed herself on her feet and left with brisk steps.

Dylan sat there, coffee cup in hand, watching her retreating figure. He set his coffee cup down on the table with a deliberate motion and snatched his phone, dialing Justin. “In my office – now.”

Justin appeared in no time. “Yes, Mr. Brooks. How can I help you?” His gaze momentarily flicked to the untouched glass of juice on the table. He wondered why Dylan had ordered juice along with the coffee.

Dylan pushed the file toward him. “Take a look at this,” he said with frustration and authority. “I want to know where the funds are going.”

Justin picked up the file, his brow knitting in confusion. As he opened it and scanned its contents, his eyes widened in shock.

“Why wasn’t I informed about any of this?” Dylan hissed. “How have these shady transactions been happening under my nose, and no one thought to notify me?”

Justin’s mouth opened, but no words came. He flipped through the pages with increasing unease. The details were damning rows of approvals for substantial funds funneled into dubious NGOs, all signed off by the former COO. It was now painfully clear how this had escaped scrutiny; the transactions had been buried under layers of false legitimacy.

“That man covered his tracks well,” Justin muttered under his breath.

“I want him here,” Dylan ordered. “He is the only one who can explain this mess. Bring him to me.”

Justin hesitated for a moment. “Um…There is a problem… He is out of the country.”

“What?” he barked. “Where is he, and how long has he been gone?”

“After resigning from the Ace Group, he left the country,” Justin began. “I’ve heard he has settled abroad. I don’t know where he is exactly. But I’ll start digging immediately.”

“Do it,” Dylan growled. “No one misuses my company and gets away with it. And find out who else is involved.”

Justin nodded curtly. “Give me a few days. I’ll uncover everything.” He hesitated briefly, his expression darkening. “There is another matter—an update on the witness.”

“Did you find anything new?” Dylan asked, his voice low yet cold.

“We tracked down the car that caused his death,” Justin explained. “It was an accident. The man jumped in front of the car, and the police have already cleared the driver of any wrongdoing.”

Dylan’s brows furrowed as he leaned forward. “What about the bruises on his body? Are there any leads on who kidnapped him?”

“Negative.” Justin shrugged with disappointment. “We are still looking into it. But I found something strange.”

Dylan squinted at him, curious as to what new information Justin had found.

“Ethan is also investigating the death of the witness,” Justin continued, his surprise evident in his tone. “He obtained the autopsy report himself.”

Dylan frowned, his mind reeling from the information. ‘Why would Ethan be digging into this?’