Chapter 4 - The Emergency Call
Malcolm arrived at Clara’s house thirty minutes after calling her.
He found her in the living room beside the ruined dress.
The chief executive was sixty-two, careful with his words, and almost impossible to surprise. Yet when he saw the ashes, anger flashed across his face.
“Was there an accident?”
“No.”
Clara covered the remains with a white cloth.
“What happened at the company?”
Malcolm placed the leather folder on the table.
“Adrian submitted altered financial projections to the executive committee.”
Clara remained standing.
“Altered how?”
“He moved losses from the North American division into deferred international accounts. It made the division appear twenty-eight percent more profitable than it actually was.”
“Who approved the report?”
“Vanessa certified the supporting documents.”
Clara opened the folder.
Inside were copies of internal emails, financial summaries, and audit notes.
One message from Adrian read:
Once the appointment is announced, the board will not reverse it publicly. We only need the numbers to survive until the next quarter.
Clara read the sentence twice.
“How long have you known?”
“The auditors contacted me this morning.”
“And the promotion?”
“Adrian told the planning committee it had already been approved.”
“It hasn’t.”
“No.”
“Then why is there a ballroom full of people preparing to celebrate it?”
Malcolm looked ashamed.
“He presented an email that appeared to come from your office.”
Clara’s eyes narrowed.
“My office?”
“It contained your electronic authorization.”
“I gave no authorization.”
“We now believe your signature was copied from an older document.”
Clara turned the page.
There it was: her name, attached to a decision she had never made.
For years, she had protected Adrian from accusations that his marriage influenced his career.
Now he had used their marriage to manufacture approval.
Malcolm continued.
“There is more.”
He placed several printed messages in front of her.
Adrian and Vanessa had discussed restructuring the foundation after the promotion. They planned to reduce Clara’s access to company information by portraying her as emotionally unstable.
One message from Vanessa read:
After tonight, everyone will see you as the real leader. Clara can stay home with her gardens and old dresses.
Adrian had replied:
That is where she belongs.
Clara placed the page down.
The words hurt, but not as much as she expected.
Perhaps the fire had already burned through the part of her that still wanted excuses.
“What do you recommend?” she asked.
“An emergency board meeting.”
“Tonight?”
“Immediately.”
Clara looked at the clock.
The party would begin in less than three hours.
“Hold the meeting at the ballroom.”
Malcolm blinked.
“At the event?”
“The board members are already attending.”
“Yes, but—”
“Use the private conference suite upstairs. Do not tell Adrian.”
Malcolm studied her carefully.
“What are you planning?”
“I’m going to let him finish building the stage.”
She glanced toward the covered remains of her mother’s gown.
May you like
“Then I’m going to walk onto it.”
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