Chapter 20 - The Boardroom Betrayal
Edward Crane knew.
The moment I walked into the boardroom, I saw it in his face.
Not guilt.
Calculation.
“Nora,” he said warmly. “What brings you here?”
I placed a folder on the table.
“Audit results.”
His smile disappeared.
“What audit?”
“An independent one.”
Silence.
Crane looked around the table.
Then back at me.
“You've been investigating your own board?”
“I've been investigating my father's company.”
“You're risking investor confidence.”
“No.”
I opened the folder.
“You're risking investor confidence.”
His face hardened.
“Be careful.”
I leaned forward.
“That's what my mother used to say.”
Nobody moved.
Crane's expression changed.
I knew then.
He had been afraid of Victoria.
But he had also benefited from her.
The federal auditors entered the room.
Crane stood.
“This is outrageous.”
One auditor placed documents in front of him.
“Edward Crane, we need your cooperation regarding unauthorized contract transfers involving Atlas Strategic Technologies.”
Crane stared at the documents.
Then he looked at me.
“You have no idea what you're doing.”
I answered quietly.
“I know exactly what I'm doing.”
He was escorted out.
The room remained silent.
One director finally spoke.
“Nora, your father would have been proud.”
I shook my head.
“Don't say that.”
He looked surprised.
“My father doesn't need praise from us.”
I closed the folder.
May you like
“He needs the truth.”
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