Everyone who was seated at the oval table had a specific look towards Victoria. It was well known that she was Arthur's prodigy. It was also not a secret that she had a palpable crush on her late mentor too.
So It was not surprising that she might be in Arthur's payroll or she got herself into his payroll.
But the major question was the amount, and what was the connection with the remaining ten others that received similar amounts.
Arthur was declared an enemy of the cartel and everything about him was monitored and put on watchlist. Even his prodigies were being hunted.
So any form of relationships or transactions, either in recent dealings were vehemently frowned at.
Victoria on the other hand would have thought she was being pranked or joked with, if not for the fact that she knew the hall, the men and the meetings were never jokes, not ever.
If not for the undercover operations and that she was at the line of duty, she would have been summoned physically for today's meeting or worse, armed men would have brought her in with a black van, which would definitely draw attention.
"Twenty million what???" Victoria choked on her words as she expressed her astonishment.
Caught up with the numbers she heard, that she forgot she was not alone in her room. Black groaned and murmured while keeping up with his pretense to be asleep, so that Victoria won't have the need to go somewhere private.
Out of the 301 active members of the cartel, only Victoria didn't get the broadcast message regarding the meeting and also the only member oblivious to what was happening for now.
The Chairman's secretary went over the theme of the day for Victoria, so she could become aware of the goings on.
"I do not even remember receiving any notification regarding that amount, you can confirm from my bank manager.. He should be the first point of contact not me. I have never made a deal before that warrants such amount". Victoria spoke in length.
The third seat to the left of the Chairman's seat spoke, with a thick grunt of a voice that sounded like a pig snorting, he chipped in about the obvious dilly-dally she had with Arthur before he became late, and insinuated about how such could have prompted such favour due to sentiments.
"I am very much aware about my feelings for my late mentor, and I am not ashamed or denying it. Yet, no one here can deny that they don't know how Arthur never mixed business with pleasure. And he was an ardent respecter of company's policy...So Sir, that is not a tangible alibi". Victoria vehemently dismissed the claim.
This time the Chairman spoke again, "How about we say you and your account manager conspired to get this deal before Arthur became late. Because there is an undeniable evidence that your account manager was among the ten individuals that were on the pay slip".
Victoria was in obvious shock. Even Black, who was on the bed, and away from the camera view was amazed.
'Echo really had to go all out...damn! I really need to keep this bot in control now..."
Still on the call, Victoria frantically logged on her bank accounts and went through her transaction histories.
"Goddamnit, how is it possible that I received this type of amount and made ten payments without me knowing or suspecting? My account manager is incapable of taking money out of my account, in which everyone seated here knows how well these accounts operate..."
"So are you saying you don't know about this transactions, Miss Victoria Frost...?" The Chairman said in an otherworldly voice that instantly shifted the atmosphere of the room into a pensive state.
Everyone knew not to mess with the Cartels, few knew never to mess with the boss of the cartel, because they knew that man has the power and influence to overturn and topple down countries and government.
'Arthur is got to be a maniac or crazy man for him to want to face the Cartel, heads on and alone!' Black shivered.
Victoria swallowed hard at the question. She was sure as hell she didn't know about the money and can not explain what possible reasons that could make Arthur want to send her such amounts.
Yet, despite the confidence, she was full of doubts, because 'what if...'
She also knew that if at all her account manager knew about the money, there will be no way out for her to prove her innocence. Even if her account manager or late Arthur resurrected to defend her.
The Cartel were publicly known to manage and control the world finances and financial assets or instruments. And they were powerful.
But here in the shadows, where only those who were core members are allowed access or knowledge about the cartel, they move in more sinister ways.
Even Presidents of sovereign nations are either among them or weary of them.
They dealt in sinister ventures like drugs, human trafficking, organ trafficking, money laundering, proxy war and a lot more...
Members of these group are top 0.00002% of the world chain. They were literally in charge of everything.
One of the criteria with which you could become the cartel boss is being the Chairman of BlackPool. Another criteria is your networth must be at least a whooping thirty percent greater that any top members of the cartel joined together.
Wealth like this were gotten through blood and bones.
The richest man in this world was worth $7 billion dollars, and he was the previous Chairman of BlackPool before he died. The current Chairman of BlackPool and the boss of the cartel have a disclosed worth of $4 billion dollars, and there are verifiable rumours that that is not all.
If it was rumoured that you belong to the cartel, your goods or vehicles can never be seized or impounded. You can never be imprisoned or convicted.
If there are perceived cases of espionage or kidnaps, the former would be dead before they even get to open up and speak, while the latter are either found within twenty four hours maximum or even killed.
Any form of misconduct or espionage is judged to death. No plea, or consideration is addressed.
So, Victoria knew what she was into and knew better on why she was hesitant to answer, even when she was sure she was unaware.
When Arthur was still alive, he fought against these sinister ventures, but because he was a valuable and indispensable member, there was nothing trivial they could do to stop him. And they kept their activities low until Arthur announced his resignation.
Victoria never knew what BlackPool cartel societies entailed until she was in fully. And because of the sworn secrecy, she could only work for them.
The Chairman who was silent for a moment repeated himself again to Victoria, "Are you saying you don't know about this transactions, Miss Victoria Frost...?" His voice indicating a well mastered suppressed rage.
"No Sir, I don't..." Victoria replied.