CHAPTER 3 — THE BOARDROOM
CHAPTER 3 — THE BOARDROOM
Fifteen minutes later, every director sat around the polished walnut table.
Outside, rain streaked across the glass walls.
Inside, the atmosphere felt colder.
Adrian occupied the CEO's chair.
I remained standing.
General Counsel Richard Ellis entered carrying three sealed envelopes.
"So," I began calmly.
"Let's discuss why Bennett Meridian has lost nearly forty-two million dollars in three months."
Several directors turned toward Adrian.
He remained silent.
I pressed a button on the conference room screen.
Financial records appeared.
Luxury travel.
Personal shopping.
Fake consulting invoices.
Vendor payments approved without contracts.
Every transaction led back to one executive office.
Vanessa Cole.
She looked horrified.
"I...I didn't authorize all of those."
"No," I replied.
"You processed them."
The next slide appeared.
Electronic approvals.
CEO authorization.
Adrian Bennett.
His signature.
Every time.
His shoulders slumped.
"It isn't what it looks like."
"No?"
I displayed another photograph.
The Aspen retreat.
Another from Paris.
Another from a beach resort in Greece.
Each trip charged as a "client development meeting."
Each included only Adrian and Vanessa.
One director removed his glasses.
Another quietly shook his head.
I wasn't finished.
"The bracelet."
I enlarged the photograph I had taken minutes earlier.
"The diamond bracelet belongs to me."
Vanessa slowly removed it from her wrist.
Tears filled her eyes.
"He told me..."
Her voice cracked.
"He told me you were his ex-wife."
"He said you stayed on the paperwork because of taxes."
The room turned toward Adrian.
He closed his eyes.
No one defended him.
Not one person.
General Counsel Ellis slid the first envelope across the table.
"Mr. Bennett."
"You are hereby suspended as Chief Executive Officer pending a forensic investigation."
The second envelope.
"Ms. Cole."
"Your employment is terminated effective immediately."
The third envelope rested in front of me.
"The Board requests that Mrs. Claire Bennett serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer."
Every hand around the table rose.
Unanimous.
Adrian looked at me.
"You planned this."
I met his eyes.
May you like
"No."
"You did."
