Chapter 3 - THE BOARD'S RECKONING
At 2:00 p.m.,
I received an invitation to a private Zoom meeting.
The subject line was simple:
"Confidential Discussion — Carter Global Executive Committee."
I adjusted my lighting,
put on a pair of pearl earrings,
and clicked 'Join.'
Six faces appeared on the screen.
The oldest members of the board,
men who had known Michael's father,
looked solemn.
The younger members looked horrified.
"Claire,"
said Harrison Vane,
the Chairman.
"Thank you for joining us."
"I assume you've all seen the documentation,"
I began,
skipping the pleasantries.
"We have,"
Harrison replied,
rubbing his temples.
"It is... distressing."
"Distressing is an understatement,
Harrison,"
I said,
leaning forward.
"It is a violation of company policy regarding sexual harassment and professional conduct."
"Michael used company resources to promote a junior associate in exchange for sexual favors."
"He used the company’s Manhattan apartment—our home—as a site for this conduct."
"And he did it while I was representing Carter Global in the London merger."
The board members shifted in their seats.
They knew I was the one who had closed the London deal.
Without me,
the company would have been in the red for the third quarter.
"We are prepared to offer Michael a dignified exit,"
Harrison said.
"A dignified exit?"
I asked,
my voice dropping an octave.
"After he disgraced the brand?"
"After he opened the firm up to a massive lawsuit from the PR department?"
"If you don't fire him for cause,
I will make sure the New York Times gets a copy of that email."
The threat hung in the air like a guillotine.
The board members looked at each other.
They knew I wasn't bluffing.
"Claire,
we have to consider the stock price,"
one of the younger members argued.
"The stock price will recover under new leadership,"
I countered.
"It will not recover if the company is seen as a boy's club that protects cheaters."
"I want him out by the end of the business day."
"And I want Brittany Adams terminated immediately."
"We've already begun the process for Ms. Adams,"
Harrison informed me.
"She was escorted from the building twenty minutes ago."
I felt a small surge of satisfaction.
Brittany’s dream of luxury was over.
"As for Michael,"
Harrison continued,
"we are drafting the termination papers now."
"He will have no severance."
"And no board seat."
"Thank you,
gentlemen,"
I said,
my expression unreadable.
"I trust you'll make the right decision for the shareholders."
I disconnected from the call.
The company Michael loved more than anything was slipping through his fingers.
And he had no one to blame but himself and a junior PR associate.
I walked to the mini-bar and poured a small glass of champagne.
The taste of victory was sweet,
but I knew the legal battle for our personal assets was next.
Michael would fight for the townhouse.
He would fight for the art collection.
But he didn't realize that I had already moved the most valuable pieces to a secure location months ago.
I had seen the signs of his distance long before the photos arrived.
I just hadn't realized how brazen he had become.
The phone buzzed.
A text from Ryan.
"He’s at her apartment."
"He looks furious."
"Perfect,"
May you like
I whispered.
"Let them destroy each other."
