Chapter 11 - Under Review
Elena called at 8:30 Tuesday morning.
“Your father contacted our main office.”
“I know.”
“He told our receptionist the charge was a legitimate company-approved event expense and that you had forgotten giving permission.”
I closed my eyes.
“That's false.”
“He also suggested your pain medication was affecting your judgment.”
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
I'd been prescribed medication after the fall, but the corporate payment had occurred before my hospitalization.
The explanation didn't even fit the timeline.
“He's trying to discredit me.”
“That's how it appears. But I need to keep our review independent.”
“I understand.”
Elena asked why I'd had the emergency card with me at the estate.
I'd gone directly to the rehearsal after inspecting a commercial property in Providence.
My work bag had come with me.
“Was that against policy?” I asked.
“No. Your role requires you to carry the card for urgent field expenses. But we need to document who could access your bag.”
I explained my mother's visit during my recovery and the torn seal June had photographed.
Elena took notes.
Then she asked whether I'd ever permitted my parents to use the company card.
“Never.”
“Have you used it for personal expenses at any time?”
“No.”
“Did you report the transaction as soon as you became aware of it?”
“Yes.”
“I have the timestamp.”
I swallowed.
“Am I going to lose my job?”
“I can't predict the final review. Right now, you've cooperated, and we have no evidence you authorized this charge.”
Then she delivered the news I hadn't prepared myself to hear.
“We're moving the regional storm-response project to Daniel.”
I gripped the blanket.
That project was supposed to be mine.
For nearly a year, I'd developed a new coordination system for emergency repairs across New England.
Leading the rollout could have changed my career.
“I know what that assignment means to you,” Elena said. “But the work can't stop while you're recovering.”
“Of course.”
I hated how quickly the words came out.
Of course.
The phrase I'd used my entire life whenever somebody took something from me.
After the call, I stared at my laptop.
On the screen was the presentation I'd built over eleven months.
Maps.
Budget forecasts.
Staffing models.
Hundreds of hours of work.
Someone else would now deliver it.
Nobody at Forge & Harbor had done anything wrong by finding a replacement.
That almost made the loss harder.
My sister had pushed me down a staircase.
My parents had used my corporate card.
And the consequences had followed me into the part of my life I'd built without them.
Then Elena emailed me.
Attached were documents Seacliff House had provided in support of the transaction.
The first page was an invoice.
The second was a payment receipt.
The third was a message written by my father.
Please process this under the cardholder's corporate account. Merritt has approved the arrangement, and any questions can be directed to us.
I stared at the words.
May you like
My father hadn't merely allowed the charge.
He'd instructed the venue to treat it as an approved corporate expense.
