Chapter 2 - The Audit and the Fall
Robert’s face drained of all color. Vivian stepped forward, trying to maintain her icy composure.
"Ms. Hart, yesterday was a misunderstanding," Vivian said, offering a tight, forced smile. "I was merely enforcing safety protocols at a high-profile event—"
"You humiliated a child," Evelyn interrupted softly, yet every word cut like a razor. "And you used my company's flagship event as a stage for your petty arrogance."
Evelyn opened her leather portfolio and slid a thick stack of documents across the glass table toward the board members.
"Over the past six months, I noticed irregularities in our corporate expense reports," Evelyn continued. "While I preferred to remain a silent partner and let management handle daily operations, yesterday's incident prompted me to authorize a full forensic audit overnight."
Robert gasped, grabbing the top document.
"Personal luxury charters, offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands, and eight million dollars spent on 'consulting fees' paid directly to shell companies owned by Vivian Blackwell’s family," Arthur Vance read aloud. "This isn't just gross negligence, Robert. This is grand larceny and embezzlement."
The room erupted into gasps. Board members leaned away from Robert as if he carried a contagious disease.
"Evelyn, please!" Robert dropped to his knees, panic completely breaking his executive facade. "I can explain! Vivian... Vivian insisted on maintaining a public image! She pushed me!"
"You blame your wife now?" Evelyn said, leaning forward. "You stood right beside her yesterday while my daughter cried. You let her treat human beings like trash because you thought your title made you invincible."
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Evelyn picked up her pen.
"Effective immediately, Robert Blackwell is terminated as Chief Executive Officer for cause. All stock options are frozen, and a formal criminal complaint has been filed with the federal prosecutor."
