Chapter 15 - What the Books Could Not Fix
Karen Chen arrived at the warehouse with preliminary findings from the independent accountants. She spread reports across a folding table beneath a flickering fluorescent light.
"The payroll reserve is real," she said. "So are the losses. But some partnerships were approved without ordinary review. We can't replace them overnight."
Alessandro read the summaries. "I signed the approvals."
"You did. Your father influenced them. Both things can be true."
"What happens to the workers?"
"I have leads on new freight customers, but no promise for every position. If an outside operator takes over these warehouses, some routes survive."
"And me?"
Karen closed her laptop. "I don't care whether your name stays on the door. I care whether anyone with your name can stop a supervisor from paying people what they're owed."
He met his lawyer that afternoon. The lawyer explained that voluntarily cooperating with investigators about improper business practices could expose Alessandro's own conduct, not only Giorgio's.
"I cannot promise you protection from consequences," she said.
"I'm not asking for immunity."
"You may feel differently when they ask about decisions you made years ago."
Alessandro thought of the library and Lily insisting the bear needed a funny voice. He thought of Rosa standing in a parking lot with strangers instead of waiting for a man with powerful friends to rescue her.
"I want to tell the truth," he said. "Then deal with it."
That evening his board removed him from the distribution company's executive position. Giorgio retained the voting support to do it. Alessandro was offered a quieter advisory role if he stopped the independent review.
He declined.
When Rosa heard, she didn't congratulate him.
"Are the workers still getting paid?" she asked.
"This Friday, yes. Karen is negotiating the next contracts."
"Good. What will you do tomorrow?"
"Meet with counsel. Continue cooperating. See Lily on Saturday if you're comfortable."
"She's drawing you as a bear now," Rosa said.
May you like
He let himself laugh. "Is that good?"
"It means she expects you to come back. Don't make her wrong."
