Chapter 7 - The Audit of Halston & ReedThe offices of Salvatrici Holdings occupied the entire forty-second floor of the Prudential Building, looking out over Millenium Park and the blue expanse of Lake Michigan.
When Khloe arrived, she was guided not to a standard waiting room, but to Dante’s private office—a massive, wood-paneled sanctuary filled with leather chairs, antique globes, and a large black marble desk. Dante was standing by the glass window, his jacket off, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared at the harbor below.
He turned when the door closed. He didn't offer a standard corporate apology; he walked straight to her, his large arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her close against his chest. He held her until her breathing leveled out, his chin resting on the top of her hair.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I should have cleared his father before I let you walk back into that office.”
“You paid off my student loans?” she asked, her voice muffled against his shirt.
Dante let out a soft sigh, his chest expanding against hers. “You were paying nine percent interest to a predatory lender, Khloe. It was a simple administrative correction. I didn't realize Greg’s father had a tap on the local banking registry.”
He stepped back, his hands resting on her shoulders, his pale gray eyes burning with a cold, focused anger.
“But he has crossed a line. He didn't just target my business, Khloe. He targeted you. And in my world, when someone targets your family, you don't file an injunction. You dismantle their foundation.”
He walked back to his desk, pressing a button on his intercom. “Arthur. Bring the files.”
A moment later, Arthur Pendelton—the same sharp, aristocratic attorney who had managed Ethan Cole’s corporate legal battles—stepped into the office. He carried a thick, blue leather folder that bore the gold seal of the Illinois Department of Revenue.
“Khloe,” Dante said, gesturing to a chair. “This is Arthur. He has spent the last three hours conducting a preliminary review of Judge Tanner’s offshore holdings.”
Arthur bowed his head politely to Khloe. “Good afternoon, Miss Bennett. It seems Gregory’s father, Judge William Tanner, has been using a series of shell companies registered in Delaware to funnel 'consulting fees' from local construction unions directly into his personal accounts in Belize. For twelve years, those unions have received favorable rulings in Cook County labor disputes. Greg’s firm, Halston & Reed, was the legal entity that structured the transactions.”
Khloe’s eyes widened. “That’s… that’s federal bribery.”
“It’s racketeering,” Dante corrected, his voice flat. “And because they used Greg’s firm to manage the accounts, Gregory is legally complicit in every single transaction. He signed the asset transfers, Khloe. The same way he tried to sign your suspension today.”
Dante leaned over his desk, his hands flat against the marble.
“Tomorrow morning, the Internal Revenue Service and the FBI are going to execute a joint search warrant on Halston & Reed’s offices. Judge Tanner’s accounts will be frozen, and Gregory’s name will be on the lead indictment. But I want you to make the final call.”
Khloe looked at the blue folder. She thought about Greg’s cruel comments at the Wellington. She thought about the way he had counted her bites, the way he had made her feel like a mistake for two years, and the way he had smiled as he had her escorted from her office today.
“Can you stop them from destroying my firm?” she asked softly. “The other people at Halston & Reed… they didn't do anything wrong. They’re just auditors.”
Dante’s eyes softened, a look of profound respect passing over his features. Even in the middle of a war, she was still thinking about the innocent bystanders.
“The indictment will target only the partners involved in the Tanner accounts, Khloe,” Dante promised. “The rest of the firm will be restructured under new management. Your job will be waiting for you by Monday morning. If you want it.”
May you like
Khloe stood up, walking over to the window. The city below looked small, beautiful, and completely within their reach. For three years, she had been afraid of her own shadow. But standing next to Dante, she realized that power wasn't something to be feared. It was a tool. And when used to protect the people you loved, it was a beautiful thing.
“Do it,” she said.
