There's still atom-to-arom repulsion because of electron shells (that are negatovely charged) and attraction because of electron pairs forming a crystal bond, and other factors I don't know about.
My explaination is a gross oversimplification, and crystal chemistry is hard, but it should give a hint of what is going on.
I don't really understand this scam. Your employer wrote a cheque on the account where he later deposited the cash he was given. What's the purpose? To inflate expenses and profit numbers?