Amber m’avait souri par-dessus ma table.
Steven m’avait embrassé la joue.
Ils m’avaient posé des questions sur ma santé plus fréquemment que d’habitude.
À l’époque, j’avais cru qu’ils commençaient à être attentifs.
Ces conversations avaient désormais une tout autre dimension.
« Ils étaient en train de se constituer un record », ai-je dit.
Rebecca n’a pas répondu.
Elle n’en avait pas besoin.
Je me suis souvenue qu’Amber m’avait demandé si je dormais bien.
Je me suis souvenue que Steven m’avait suggéré de voyager davantage et de « laisser les jeunes porter la pression ».
Je me souviens avoir ri parce que je pensais qu’il s’inquiétait pour moi.
Au contraire, chaque conversation anodine aurait pu leur être utile.
« Y a-t-il une réunion du conseil d’administration aujourd’hui ? »
« Il y en a maintenant. »
« Qui l’a prédit ? »
« Steven a demandé une séance d’urgence à 14 h. »
J’ai relu le projet de résolution.
« Il pense que la carte gelée prouve que je suis instable. »
« Il semblerait que ce soit l’argument avancé. »
Pour la première fois depuis le dîner, j’ai souri.
Rebecca l’a remarqué.
« À quoi penses-tu ? »
« Je pense que Steven a oublié qui contrôle soixante-deux pour cent des actions avec droit de vote. »
L’expression de Rebecca restait sérieuse.
« Il compte peut-être sur le soutien de deux actionnaires minoritaires pour faire adopter la résolution. »
« Cela aurait-il une importance ? »
« Pas suffisant pour vous expulser légalement. »
« Alors pourquoi tenter le coup ? »
« C’est ce qui m’inquiète. »
Daniel ferma l’ordinateur portable.
« Il pourrait y avoir un autre objectif. »
Il m’a montré un projet d’autorisation bancaire joint à la résolution.
Si sa demande est approuvée, Steven pourrait accéder à une réserve d’acquisition récemment constituée.
La réserve contenait près de dix-huit millions de dollars.
J’ai eu un nœud à l’estomac.
« Quelle acquisition ? »
«Nous n’en avons pas trouvé.»
Nous sommes restés assis en silence tous les trois.
Si les factures étaient frauduleuses, il s’agirait d’un vol de quatre cent quatre-vingt mille dollars.
Dix-huit millions de dollars, c’était une toute autre histoire.
« N’annulez pas la réunion du conseil d’administration », ai-je dit.
Rebecca looked surprised.
“You want it to proceed?”
“I want to hear what my son says when he believes I do not know.”
At one fifty-five, I entered our headquarters through the main lobby instead of using the private executive entrance.
Several employees stopped speaking when they saw me.
That told me rumors had already started.
Steven was waiting inside the boardroom.
Amber sat beside him.
She had never held a position in the company.
Her presence therefore answered one question before I even sat down.
“Why is Amber here?” I asked.
Steven straightened.
“She is supporting me.”
“This is a board meeting.”
“She is family.”
“Last night I was also family.”
Amber’s mouth tightened.
Rebecca sat beside me and opened her legal pad.
Three directors joined in person while two appeared through video conference.
Steven began without apologizing.
“Yesterday revealed a serious issue concerning leadership continuity.”
I folded my hands.
“Continue.”
He glanced toward Amber.
“Mom, your decision to freeze corporate access after a personal disagreement was impulsive.”
“One corporate card was frozen.”
“You also stopped scheduled transfers.”
“Personal transfers.”
Steven ignored the distinction.
“The broader concern is whether personal emotions are affecting executive judgment.”
Amber leaned forward.
“We are worried about you, Margaret.”
I looked at her.
“Were you worried while telling me to eat in a bathroom?”
Her face flushed.
“That was a joke.”
“Nobody informed me.”
“You always take everything personally.”
“The statement was directed personally at me.”
Steven interrupted.
“This is exactly what I mean.”
I turned toward him.
“No, this is exactly what you hoped to use.”
Silence settled across the table.
I opened Rebecca’s folder.
“Would you like to explain Aster Lane Strategies before or after we discuss my supposed instability?”
Steven’s face changed.
Amber’s did not.
That difference told me more than either answer could have.
“What does Aster Lane have to do with this?” Amber asked.
“You tell me.”
Steven looked toward her.
“Amber?”
She shrugged.
“Kyle does consulting.”
“Your brother receives nearly half a million dollars from my company, and you describe that as casually as borrowing sugar.”
Steven turned fully toward her.
“How much?”
Amber’s expression finally slipped.
“You knew he had the contract.”
“I knew he had a small consulting arrangement.”
“Four hundred and eighty thousand dollars is not small.”
“He did work.”
“What work?” Rebecca asked.
Amber looked at her as though lawyers were an unpleasant household smell.
“Business development.”
“Produce one report.”
“I do not carry company records in my purse.”
“Convenient.”
Steven looked at me.
“I did not know the total was that high.”
“You approved every invoice.”
“My team processes hundreds of invoices.”
“Your signature appears on each one.”
“I approve what finance sends me.”
Daniel placed the forged authorization on the screen.
“Do you also approve documents using your mother’s signature?”
Steven stood abruptly.
“What is that?”
I watched his face closely.
His confusion appeared genuine.
Amber’s eyes went immediately toward the door.
That was when I understood the situation was worse than I had imagined.
“Sit down,” I told Steven.
He remained standing.
“I have never seen that authorization.”
Amber crossed her arms.
“This is becoming ridiculous.”
Rebecca turned toward her.
“Mrs. Carter, do you recognize the document?”
“No.”
Steven looked at his wife.
“Why did you say that so quickly?”
“Because I do not recognize it.”
“You did not even look.”
Amber’s composure cracked.
“I am not going to participate in your mother’s little courtroom performance.”
She reached for her handbag.
Rebecca spoke before she could stand.
“You are free to leave, but preservation notices have already been issued concerning Aster Lane.”
Amber froze.
“What does that mean?”
“It means relevant messages, devices, financial records, and documents must not be destroyed.”
“You cannot order me around.”
