“Because you removed my name from the executive health account.
Because Madison began joining dinners that used to be for board members.
Because you called me paranoid whenever I asked a reasonable question.”
Madison stared at Ethan.
Apparently, he had not told her how much I had noticed.
I continued.
“The photograph did not destroy my marriage.
It confirmed what had already been happening to it.”
Ethan looked around the table and realized sympathy was not moving in his direction.
So he changed tactics.
“Fine,” he said.
“Put me on leave.
But understand what happens next.
The market hears that the CEO was removed during a domestic scandal.
The stock drops.
Clients panic.
Employees lose money.
Caroline’s revenge hurts everyone.”
It was the argument he always used when anyone challenged him.
Protecting Ethan became protecting the company.
Questioning Ethan became endangering the employees.
His ambition had learned to wear the language of responsibility.
Marianne opened the financial packet in front of her.
“The stock may be the least of our immediate concerns.”
Ethan turned.
“What does that mean?”
Before she could answer, Marcus placed a closed company laptop on the table.
“At 2:14 this morning,” he said, “our monitoring system flagged a large transfer from the CEO’s restricted drive.”
Ethan’s gaze moved to Madison.
She went still.
Marcus opened the laptop.
“The credentials belonged to Ms.
Vale.”
Madison’s voice became thin.
“Ethan gave me access for scheduling and document preparation.”
“Not to the restricted acquisition directory.”
“I was gathering materials for the morning meeting.”
“At two fourteen in the morning?”
She looked at Ethan for help.
He did not give it.
Marcus turned the screen toward the board.
A transfer log filled the display.
Beneath it was a folder labeled PROJECT CROWN.
I had never seen the name before.
But Marianne had.
Her face changed.
“Open it,” Victor said.
Marcus clicked.
Inside were draft agreements, valuation schedules, private emails, and a presentation marked confidential.
Daniel leaned toward the screen.
I watched Ethan rather than the documents.
A muscle jumped in his jaw.
That was when I knew the folder mattered more than the affair.
Marianne opened the first presentation.
The title page showed the name of Halcyon Data Systems, our largest competitor.
