Chapter 23
The foundation’s corporate boardroom was located in a sleek, glass skyscraper downtown, a stark contrast to the historic weight of the mansion.
The five board members sat around a massive mahogany table, their faces tight with anxiety and poorly concealed arrogance. They were older men, steeped in wealth and privilege, entirely accustomed to intimidating their way out of crises.
When the heavy glass doors opened, they expected to see a terrified, overwhelmed young woman ready to capitulate.
Instead, Emily strode into the room with the terrifying, absolute confidence of an executioner. Arthur flanked her right side, and Daniel walked slightly behind her, carrying the thick leather briefcase containing Diane’s red ledger.
Emily did not sit down. She walked to the head of the table, placing her hands flat on the polished wood, and looked at each man in turn.
“I understand you requested an emergency meeting to discuss my resignation,” Emily said, her voice echoing in the quiet room.
The chairman, a gray-haired man named Sterling, cleared his throat.
“Now, see here, young lady. The foundation cannot survive this level of scandal. You are intimately tied to the victims in this... unfortunate legal mess. It’s a conflict of interest. We are prepared to offer you a five-million-dollar severance to walk away and let us stabilize the charity.”
Emily stared at him.
“You think I am here for a payoff.”
“It’s a generous offer,” Sterling countered, attempting a condescending smile.
Emily snapped her fingers. Daniel immediately stepped forward, opening the briefcase and placing Diane’s red ledger directly in front of Emily.
The color instantly drained from Sterling’s face. Every man at the table knew exactly what that small, red book contained.
“I am not here to negotiate, Mr. Sterling,” Emily stated, opening the ledger to a pre-marked page. “I am here to inform you that according to Diane’s meticulous accounting, every single one of you accepted a blind ‘consulting fee’ of two hundred thousand dollars annually to ignore the massive financial discrepancies in the offshore Cayman accounts.”
The room was dead silent.
“That is conspiracy to commit fraud,” Emily continued, her voice razor-sharp. “As the independent protector, I am officially terminating all five of your board positions, effective immediately. Security has already been instructed to deactivate your building access.”
“You can't do this!” one of the board members shouted, standing up in a panic. “We built this foundation!”
“No,” Emily corrected fiercely. “Eleanor built this foundation. You looted it. If any of you attempt to contest your terminations legally, I will personally hand this ledger to Detective Vance, and you will all join Margaret in a federal holding cell.”
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Emily closed the red ledger with a loud, definitive crack.
“Get out of my building.”
