Chapter 3 - THE BOARDROOM
At 8:57 a.m., Andrew entered the executive boardroom of Whitmore International as if anger alone could return control to him.
Margaret followed.
Brenda had insisted on coming too.
That decision immediately caused whispers among the directors.
Andrew ignored them.
He walked to the head of the table.
Mariana was already sitting there.
Her father sat three seats away.
Evelyn Shaw stood beside a display screen.
Andrew stopped.
For four years, he had watched Mariana sit quietly beside him at formal dinners.
He had watched his mother dismiss her opinions.
He had watched executives speak over her.
He had occasionally done the same thing.
Now twelve directors were waiting for Mariana to begin.
Andrew laughed once.
“This is ridiculous.”
Mariana looked at the clock.
“Sit down.”
His eyes widened.
“What did you say?”
“You’re three minutes late.”
He remained standing.
“This is my boardroom.”
Mariana opened the leather folder in front of her.
“No, Andrew.”
“It isn’t.”
Margaret pulled out a chair.
“You cannot humiliate my son like this.”
Mariana looked at her.
“I haven’t done anything to Andrew.”
“I called a meeting.”
“His own decisions will determine what happens next.”
Andrew leaned over the table.
“You froze my accounts.”
“I restricted company funds after discovering suspicious transfers.”
“You sent lawyers to my house.”
“My house.”
The correction landed harder than shouting would have.
Several directors looked down.
Brenda folded her arms.
“This is obviously personal.”
Mariana turned toward her.
“I agree.”
Brenda blinked.
Mariana pressed a button.
A transfer statement appeared on the screen.
Eight million dollars.
Briar Rose Ventures.
Brenda’s company.
Every trace of confidence disappeared from her face.
Andrew glanced at the screen.
“What is that?”
Mariana watched him carefully.
“You tell me.”
Andrew looked at Brenda.
She said nothing.
Evelyn spoke.
“Three weeks ago, eight million dollars was transferred from Larkstone Technologies, a Whitmore subsidiary, into Briar Rose Ventures.”
“That transfer was approved with Mrs. Escalante’s executive credentials.”
“Mrs. Escalante was in Toronto when the authorization occurred.”
“We have evidence that her credentials were accessed from the Whitmore mansion.”
Andrew’s face tightened.
“You think I did this?”
“I think someone did.”
Mariana kept her eyes on him.
“And I intend to find out who.”
Andrew turned toward Brenda.
“Did you know about this?”
Brenda’s lips parted.
“Andrew, I can explain.”
A director near the window whispered something to another director.
Andrew slammed his fist on the table.
“No.”
“You explain now.”
Brenda stared at Mariana.
Then something strange happened.
She smiled.
It was small.
Almost invisible.
But Mariana saw it.
Brenda reached into her handbag and removed her phone.
She placed it on the table.
“You want honesty?”
“Yes.”
Brenda looked at Andrew.
“Ask your mother.”
Margaret went completely still.
Andrew stared at her.
“What is she talking about?”
Margaret’s hand tightened around her purse.
Brenda continued.
“Ask Margaret who gave me Mariana’s access code.”
Andrew slowly turned.
“Mom?”
Margaret said nothing.
Mariana had expected betrayal.
May you like
She had not expected the first crack to appear this quickly.
*
