Chapter 5: The Night He Almost Won
The emergency board meeting began at nine the next morning.
Desmond arrived with three directors who had supported his expected promotion.
I took the seat at the head of the table.
Director Harlan cleared his throat.
“Until ownership of account 0417 is established, Ms.
Ashcombe should surrender operational authority.”
Desmond placed a thick binder before him.
“I agree.”
“You prepared that quickly,” I said.
“I prepared for the possibility that your secrecy would damage this company.”
“My secrecy saved it.”
“Your money saved it,” he replied.
“Your judgment remains in question.”
Reginald opened the payroll ledger.
“The retirement funds moved under Desmond’s authorization code.”
Desmond nodded.
“At Wren’s direction.
The emails prove it.”
The forensic accountant connected his laptop to the screen.
Messages appeared bearing my address and signature.
One read: MOVE THE FUNDS.
CELESTE WILL COUNTERSIGN.
DO NOT INVOLVE REGINALD.
Celeste sat behind Desmond.
She wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Did you receive this?” Harlan asked her.
“Yes.”
“Did Wren ever deny sending it before last night?”
“She didn’t know I had kept it.”
Desmond spread his hands.
“There is your answer.”
I turned to Celeste.
“Did you ever hear my voice instructing you to move the money?”
“No.”
“Did you ever meet me about it?”
“No.”
Desmond interrupted.
“Electronic authorization is standard business practice.”
“So is verifying the sender,” I said.
His attorney pushed a second document forward.
“There is another issue.
Ardent’s acquisition funds passed through account 0417 for six hours before closing.”
Reginald looked at me.
“Wren, is that true?”
“It wasn’t in the final transfer schedule.”
“It happened,” Desmond said.
“Your own capital touched an account used to replace missing employee money.
If regulators freeze the acquisition, Corvina loses its credit protection.”
Harlan removed his glasses.
“Eight hundred jobs could be at risk.”
Desmond turned toward the directors.
“Give me temporary control.
I can stabilize our lenders before this becomes public.”
I watched three hands rise.
Then a fourth.
Reginald kept his hand down.
“You’re placing the company in the hands of the man whose code initiated the transfers.”
“We’re preserving operations,” Harlan said.
The resolution passed by one vote.
My voting rights were suspended for seventy-two hours pending authentication of the emails.
Desmond moved into the head chair before I had stood.
“Your access card,” he said.
I placed it on the table.
“And your company devices.”
“They belong to Ardent.”
“Then take them.
They may already be compromised.”
He looked at Mara.
“You’re suspended for disclosing confidential payroll records.”
I stepped toward him.
“You will not punish her for telling the truth.”
“I just did.”
Mara gathered her ledger, but Desmond’s attorney blocked the door.
“That document stays.”
“It’s a copy,” Mara said.
“The original is somewhere you can’t reach.”
For the first time, Desmond’s smile vanished.
Isolde followed me into the hallway.
“You still think he loves you?” I asked.
“No,” she whispered.
“I think he’s going to blame me.”
“Then tell the board what you know.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
She glanced toward the security camera and pressed a folded hotel receipt into my palm.
“He keeps a private server in Suite 814 at the Halcyon Hotel,” she said.
“If he realizes I told you, he’ll erase everything before midnight.”
May you like
Behind us, the boardroom door opened.
Desmond stood there, staring at Isolde’s empty hand.
