Chương 3 - Câu Chuyện Của Những Cái Tên

Contract-signing authority above the limit Lauren already .

were enough words on those pages to make the intention look boring.

wasn’t.

I closed the folder.

“ this?”

“ formalizes the structure.”

“ structure?”

“The one Dad wanted.”

“ father never asked to sign this.”

“He wanted running the company.”

“You running the company.”

“Not really, if every major decision can still be questioned by you.”

I at .

“How many major decisions have I questioned the past year?”

didn’t answer.

“None.”

“’s not the point.”

“ exactly the point.”

pressed lips together.

“Mom, you’re grieving. You shouldn’t be dealing with contracts, bank approvals, staffing. Let handle .”

was the voice.

Soft.

Patient.

Like I was old confused.

I was fifty-nine.

I said, “I’ll review these with counsel.”

eyes narrowed.

“You don’t need to involve .”

“ has been our attorney for sixteen years.”

“These standard.”

“ ’ll review them quickly.”

Lauren sat forward.

“Why you making everything fight now?”

I at the cardboard box.

at dead husband’s photograph inside .

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

I stood.

Lauren did too.

“So you’re not signing?”

“I didn’t say .”

“When will you decide?”

“Tomorrow.”

surprised.

“Tomorrow?”

“Ten the morning.”

“For ?”

“ special meeting.”

face changed.

“Mom.”

“Be .”

I picked up the box.

I stopped.

“’s something else.”

“?”

“Tell to leave parking space empty.”

I walked outside.

Once I was car, I called Grant.

answered on the second ring.

“Diane?”

“I need meeting tomorrow morning.”

was quiet for moment.

“ happened?”

“Lauren shut off badge handed voting proxy.”

swore softly.

said, “Before tomorrow, you need to talk to .”

Price was our controller.

“Why?”

Another pause.

“ tried to raise something with Michael before he entered hospice.”

“ kind something?”

“Vendor payments.”

hand tightened around the phone.

“.”

“I don’t have enough yet to tell you more.”

“ get enough.”

“I will.”

“ ?”

“Yes?”

“Bring the adoption file.”

went silent.

“Diane.”

“I know.”

“ you sure?”

“No.”

was the truth.

I through windshield at the building Michael I spent half our lives building.

“But bring .”

—

At nine-fifty the next morning, I walked into Bennett Foods through the front entrance.

Marcus been told to reactivate badge.

I didn’t use .

I made point signing the visitor sheet anyway.

Lauren was already the conference room.

sat beside .

sat across from them.

So did , our controller.

Frank Ellis Marsha Cole, the two outside directors, were at the far end the table.

Lauren at the seat at the head the table.

at .

placed folder .

folder.

I moved to the side sat down.

stared at .

“Mom, I chair operating meetings.”

“This isn’t an operating meeting.”

Nobody said anything after .

I started formally.

“We’re here to discuss executive authority certain financial issues identified after Michael’s death.”

Lauren at .

“ financial issues?”

opened binder.

shifted his chair.

movement caught attention.

began.

“Over the past seven months, Bennett Foods paid approximately one hundred eighteen thousand dollars to consulting vendor called Market Solutions.”

Lauren frowned.

“Yes. Regional market development.”

turned page.

“ was incorporated eleven months ago.”

“So?”

“The registered business address matches an office suite leased by Carter Commercial Group.”

spoke.

“’s uncle’s company.”

nodded.

Lauren at him.

“ uncle?”

’s face hardened.

“They’re separate businesses.”

continued.

“The listed owner Market Solutions cousin, Derek Carter.”

Lauren at again.

“You told was independent.”

“ independent.”

“ cousin owns .”

“ doesn’t mean he isn’t independent.”

Frank Ellis leaned back his chair.

“Was the relationship disclosed?”

Nobody answered.

did.

“I found no written related-party disclosure to the .”

Lauren at .

“ this?”

I said, “ meeting.”

“You think stole money?”

“I didn’t say .”

“You’re implying .”

slid copies across the table.

“ six invoices with nearly identical descriptions. Four were approved above normal department limit using an executive exception.”

Lauren down.

signature was on the approvals.

up quickly.

“ brought those to .”

turned toward .

“Don’t do .”

“?”

“Don’t act like you didn’t know.”

Lauren stared at him.