Chapter 290
Dammit, Ezra,” I growl, jumping up and grabbing a box of tissue I pull out several and press them into the stain before it can grow. “Why did you have to barge in like that?”
Ezra freezes in the doorway, looking sheepish. “I’m sorry, Alpha. He rislies forward and helps me clean up the mess. Once it’s handled–although a strongly–worded letter from Marjorie Falks, Ironically, ruined–he steps back.
“Well?” I ask, sitting back in my chair. “Did you need something?
My Beta nods and clears his throat. “I’ve been looking into that at funding issue like you asked.”
Isit up straighter in my chair. “And?”
“Well, it’s… strange,” Ezra says carefully. “The schools claim they were supposed to receive funds from the Ordan Public School Fund, as they do every year. But they’ve been receiving fewer and fewer funds each year.”
That takes me by surprise. The Ordan Public School Fund, Iris’s cousin’s charity, is one of the biggest and most prosperous in
the country.
“Are they receiving fewer donations?” I ask.
“That’s the thing,” Ezra says, scratching his head with one hand while he pulls a small envelope out of his pocket with the other. He hands it to me and nods toward it. “Their reported donations have actually increased year over year for the past three years. Last year alone, they saw a twelve percent increase in overall donations.”
I furrow my brow and open the envelope, pulling out a report on the Ordan Public School Fund’s yearly numbers. Indeed, last year was particularly prosperous. “This amount alone should be enough to save arts programs across the board,” I mutter, glancing up at my Beta.
Ezra nods. “Yes, it should. And according to the Fund’s financial statements, the amount allocated for direct school funding has remained consistent. But when I contacted several schools discreetly, they showed me their grant letters. The amounts have
been decreasing steadily.”
I lean back in my chair, trying to make sense of this. “Could it be that they’re spreading the same amount across more schools? Diluting the individual grants?”
“I considered that,” Ezra admits. “But the number of participating schools has remained constant. If anything, a few have dropped out of the program due to what they called ‘insufficient funding to justify the paperwork.“”
“So where is the money going?” I ask.
“That’s where I’ve reached an impasse,” he says with a sigh. “I’ve contacted the Fund, and they said they would send me the numbers. It’s been a week and I haven’t heard back.”
“So contact them again.”
“I’ve tried. They put me on hold for thirty minutes before the line went dead. When I went in person on Friday, they told me Veronica was out of the office and wouldn’t be back for a week, and that they didn’t have the authorization to give me the information without her present.”
I rub my temples, feeling a headache coming on. It makes no sense. Veronica has been a pillar of Ordan for years. Her charity initiatives alone have been massively beneficial for the people, and she is nothing if not a genuine and decent person.
At least, so it seems. Although in the world of wealth and status and power in this country, I suppose you can never know a person’s true motives.
“Well, this is worrisome,” I admit. “Iris is working with her on her gala, so it could harm all of us if funds are being misallocated. Keep pushing them to give you the numbers. If they don’t send them within two weeks, send them a legal threat.”
“Understood, sir,” Ezra says with a nod. With that, he turns and quickly leaves, likely to head straight to the Fund’s headquarters.
1/2
Chapter 290
**25 BONUS
Once I’m alone, I frown, staring out the window at the bustling city below. The information Ezra has gathered is troubling but not conclusive. There could be regitimate explanations for the discrepancies.
Perhaps there are other programs benefiting from the increased donations, programs that aren’t directly tied to school funding. but still support children’s education in some way.
After all, surely Veronica, Iris’s illustrious cousin, wouldn’t be embezzling funds… right?
