Chapter 208 Absconding with Funds
Seeing the dejected look on his face, even though I knew he wasn't really angry, I still felt a bit sorry for him.
So I got up, walked over to him, and leaned down to give him a gentle kiss.
"Atlas, you know what's going on with the company right now. Just give me some time, I promise I'll get everything sorted out soon."
Atlas grabbed my hand again, and when I looked up, his face was already full of smiles. "I was just messing with you."
"I just don't want Knox to beat me to it. I know you're busy taking over the company. I understand, and I'll wait for you."
That's what he said, but the resentful look in his eyes was impossible to miss.
I smiled softly. "Atlas, I didn't know you'd learned to play the vulnerable card."
Atlas gently ruffled my hair and sighed. "I had a whole plan to win your sympathy, but you saw right through it. Oh well, I'll try a different approach next time."
After that, we both burst out laughing.
I understood what Atlas was thinking. He really did want to marry me, but he would also respect my wishes and wouldn't push me. I got what he meant, but I also wouldn't easily compromise and shortchange myself.
On the way home, Atlas brought up that driver Winford again. "We've got some leads. We'll track him down soon."
"Thank you so much."
I thanked Atlas sincerely. Winford was very important to me. If John's family was really behind this, I could use Winford to help Henry see their true colors.
"I'll keep on top of everything. I'll let you know the moment there's any news."
Atlas looked at me deeply again. "Helena, I want to do more for you, but it seems like there's a lot I can't help with. From now on, for anything outside of work, just come to me."
I nodded and smiled back. "Having you as my backup, I'm truly honored."
"Not at all, it's what you deserve."
Atlas smiled and replied, "You have no idea how the Lancaster family talks about you now that they know you've inherited the Lockwood Group. The whole tone has changed."
This actually surprised me. "So you're saying no one's against us being together anymore?"
"How could they be against it? Grandpa's practically pushing me to marry you every day now."
At this, Atlas let out a cold laugh. "I'm telling you this so you won't worry about the Lancaster family or anyone else. They're not worth your time and energy. You should focus on what matters, and I'll handle the rest."
His words fell gently on my ears, and only then did I understand why he'd brought up the Lancaster family.
I nodded. "Okay, I will."
When I got upstairs, the lights were still on. Henry and Maria hadn't gone to bed yet.
When Maria saw me, she asked with a smile, "Did Atlas bring you home? Where is he? Why didn't you invite him in?"
"It was too late, so I sent him home."
Seeing I seemed a bit distracted, Maria quickly got up and asked, "What's wrong? Did you two have a fight?"
"Of course not."
I shook my head. "No, he just brought up marriage, but I turned him down."
"I see."
Hearing this, Maria breathed a sigh of relief. "You did the right thing refusing. You just took over the company, so it's really not the right time to get married. Wait until things at work settle down first."
"You're right, Mom."
With Maria's support, the little bit of anxiety in my heart disappeared. My voice lightened. "I'm going upstairs to rest now."
There was a tough battle to fight tomorrow, so I needed to get a good night's sleep.
The next day at the company, I'd barely sat down when Giselle came running over looking worried. "Ms. Lockwood, Patrick's gone."
I stood up. "What do you mean gone? What happened?"
"He didn't come to the office today."
Giselle's words immediately made me think of the word "absconding." I pulled out my phone and called the deputy CFO, Lanny McCaffrey. "Go to Patrick's house right now with some people. If he's home, make sure you bring him to the office."
Hearing the urgency in my voice, Lanny didn't dare ask questions. He agreed and hung up.
After putting down the phone, I said to Giselle, "Keep working on things. Let me know when there's a result."
Only then did Giselle calm down. She nodded. "Okay."
After she left, I directly called the police. Whether or not Patrick was behind the embezzlement, as the CFO, he definitely couldn't escape responsibility.
When the police arrived, Lanny had just gotten back too. His face looked terrible. "Ms. Lockwood, there's no one at Patrick's house. I heard from the property management that Patrick's family left with the kids a few days ago. No one paid attention at the time, so we don't know where they went."
When he saw the police, Lanny's expression changed immediately . "Ms. Lockwood, did Patrick do something wrong?"
"Yes, there's a problem with the accounts."
After saying this, I looked at the officers. "We've found some things related to Patrick, but now he's disappeared. I'll have to trouble you with this matter."
The police looked serious as they took notes, their pens scratching across the paper. "Ms. Lockwood, what exactly is the situation? How long has Patrick been missing? Have his family members also disappeared?"
I pushed down the anger rising in my chest and replied clearly, "Patrick is the group's CFO. He was absent without reason today. When we sent people to his home, the property management confirmed that his family left with their children several days ago, and the house is empty. Currently, our internal audit has found major irregularities in the financial accounts. As the person directly responsible, Patrick is a major suspect."
Lanny's face instantly turned deathly pale. He staggered back half a step and had to grab the desk to steady himself. Looking at his shocked expression, he must have been completely stunned by the news that Patrick, his colleague of many years, had suddenly absconded with the money.
"We'll open an investigation immediately, check traffic surveillance, accommodation records, and seal off border crossings." The lead officer closed his notebook. "Please have the relevant materials on the financial irregularities sent to the police station as soon as possible, Ms. Lockwood."
"Don't worry, I'll have someone send them over right away."
I had someone see the police out. The atmosphere in the office was so heavy it was suffocating. Lanny's forehead was covered in cold sweat, his voice trembling. "Ms. Lockwood, this is my fault. I failed to notice Patrick's suspicious behavior earlier."
I raised my hand to cut him off. "Now's not the time for that. Immediately gather all the key people in the finance department, lock down all financial systems, suspend all large fund transfers, and pull up the accounts from the past three years. We're going to investigate everything thoroughly."
"Yes! I'll do it right away!" Lanny did not dare delay and stumbled out.
I slumped in my office chair, my fingers ice cold. The Lockwood Group had just gone through ownership turmoil, I'd only taken over the company a few days ago, and now Patrick had absconded with funds. Once the news got out, the stock price would definitely plummet, and suppliers and partners would immediately cause trouble. With problems both inside and out, the Lockwood Group would really be beyond saving.
My phone suddenly vibrated. It was Atlas calling. "Helena, I just heard the news. Are you in trouble?"
His voice carried a hint of urgency.