I caught my husband sleeping with my brother’s wife, so I quietly swapped the lubricant in his bag for industrial glue.
For once, I did not need one.
“My name is Elena Vance,” I began. “Many of you know me as the company’s former CFO. Today, I am speaking to you as interim CEO.”
The room behind the camera remained silent.
“This company was founded by Evelyn Vance, whose contribution was deliberately erased. Financial misconduct concealed for decades has now been uncovered. The proposed sale to Halcyon Freight has been canceled.”
Messages began flooding the employee platform.
I continued.
“No employee will lose a job because of this investigation. No warehouse will close. No pension will be sacrificed to repair the actions of executives.”
Helen looked surprised.
Those promises had not been approved.
I did not care.
“We will rebuild with transparency. We will restore the names removed from our history. And we will prove that a company is not the property of one person’s ego.”
When the broadcast ended, the room erupted in applause.
Brandon hugged me.
“You’re back.”
I almost smiled.
Then my phone rang.
Saint Anthony Medical Center.
A nurse informed me that Julian had discharged himself against medical advice.
Serena was still under observation.
No one knew where Julian had gone.
I looked toward the glass wall of the studio.
On my former office desk sat the bag of evidence from Arthur’s house.
The blue binder was open.
One page was missing.
A document I clearly remembered placing inside.
The original ownership certificate showing my mother’s fifty-one percent stake.
My phone vibrated with a message from Julian.
You took everything from me.
A second message appeared.
Now I’m taking the only paper that can give it back to you.
A photograph followed.
Julian held the missing certificate.
Behind it was a boarding gate display.
Flight 418.
Destination: Zurich.
Departure: 2:05 p.m.
