Chapter 16 - Back to Harrison Energy
Harrison Energy’s Chicago headquarters occupied sixty floors of glass and steel.
Emily had not entered one of its offices in five years.
The last time, she had carried a cardboard box containing photographs, research notes, and the coffee mug Ryan bought her during their first year of marriage.
Now she entered through the front doors beside him.
Employees stared.
Phones appeared.
Whispers followed them toward the elevators.
Ryan noticed Emily tense.
“Want security to clear the lobby?”
“No.”
She kept walking.
“Let them watch me come back.”
Ryan almost smiled.
“That’s the Emily Parker I remember.”
She looked at him.
“Careful.”
The smile vanished.
“Right.”
They met with three independent board members.
Ryan presented financial records.
Emily presented patent documentation.
Melissa appeared by video with her attorney.
James Cole submitted a sworn statement.
The directors were stunned.
One of them, Margaret Sloan, removed her glasses.
“If this is accurate, Adrian committed fraud on a massive scale.”
Ryan nodded.
“And manipulated corporate governance.”
Emily added.
“And forged intellectual-property records.”
Margaret looked at Ryan.
“Why did you not discover this earlier?”
The question cut deep.
Ryan answered without hiding.
“Because five years ago, I allowed personal anger to interfere with my judgment.”
Emily looked at him.
He continued.
“And Adrian exploited it.”
The board agreed to request an emergency forensic audit.
But there was a problem.
Adrian controlled enough allied votes to block immediate suspension.
Ryan needed one more major shareholder.
Emily knew who.
Her own former mentor.
Dr. Evelyn Carter.
Evelyn had helped found Harrison Energy and owned six percent.
She had also refused to speak to Ryan since the divorce.
Ryan called.
Evelyn answered.
“What do you want?”
“I need your vote.”
“No.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
“Please listen.”
“I listened five years ago when Emily told me you destroyed her life.”
Ryan looked toward Emily.
“She was right.”
Silence.
Evelyn had clearly not expected that.
Ryan continued.
“I was wrong.”
“I need your vote not to save me.”
“I need it to stop the man who used my stupidity to steal from the company.”
Evelyn remained quiet.
Then she asked.
“Is Emily there?”
Ryan handed her the phone.
Emily listened.
Her expression changed.
Finally she said.
“Yes.”
Then.
“I understand.”
She ended the call.
Ryan waited.
“Well?”
Emily looked at him.
“She’ll come.”
Ryan exhaled.
“But she wants something.”
“What?”
Emily’s eyes held his.
“She wants you to resign as CEO if the board determines your negligence enabled Adrian’s fraud.”
Ryan did not hesitate.
“Done.”
Emily stared.
“You didn’t even think.”
“I’ve thought for five years.”
May you like
Ryan looked toward the company skyline.
“Maybe losing this is the first price I actually deserve to pay.”
