On Friday morning, the independent auditors completed their preliminary report. They identified questionable payments, incomplete documentation, and evidence that employee complaints had not been properly handled. The board scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday. I decided to attend personally. Rebecca reminded me that Richard still believed I was an ordinary widow who had somehow become involved in an internal misunderstanding.
I wore a simple navy suit and arrived at headquarters before everyone else. The reception staff greeted me warmly, and the executive assistant immediately escorted me to the boardroom. Richard entered fifteen minutes later, carrying his briefcase and smiling confidently. Then he noticed me sitting at the head of the table. His smile vanished.
