I Found the Envelope — But It Wasn’t Mine

As I leaned back in the chair, I caught a glimpse of the clock on the wall, ticking steadily at 3:15 PM. Time felt like it was slipping away from me, each second carrying a weight of uncertainty. James cleared his throat, bringing my attention back to him. « It seems there have been some unauthorized transactions, » he continued, sliding a piece of paper across the desk. The document bore numbers and figures I couldn’t immediately make sense of. « These transactions don’t align with your usual spending patterns, » he explained, his tone remaining unemotional. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, a mix of confusion and dread. « Could this be a mistake? » I asked, my voice betraying a hint of frustration despite my efforts to stay calm. James shook his head, « We’re conducting a thorough review, but in the meantime, your account will be temporarily suspended. » His words were like a punch to the gut, but I knew arguing wouldn’t change the outcome. I had to find out how this happened and why.