Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Call That Exposed Another Lie The Call That Exposed Another Lie
Daniel stared at his phone as Margaret's name appeared for
Daniel stared at his phone as Margaret's name appeared for the third time.
For a man who could negotiate multimillion-dollar contracts without blinking, he suddenly seemed incapable of answering the third time.
For a man who could negotiate multimillion-dollar contracts without blinking, he suddenly seemed incapable of answering a simple call.
“Are you going to pick up?”” I asked.
He looked at me.
“It's a simple call.
“Are you going to pick up?”” I asked.
He looked at me.
“It's a personal matter.””
“Of course.””
His jaw tightened at my response a personal matter.””
“Of course.””
His jaw tightened at my response.
I stepped away from the door and returned to my chair.
I stepped away from the door and returned to my chair.
“Please, don't let me interrupt.””
Daniel looked as though he wanted to argue, but the phone continued vibrating.
“Please, don't let me interrupt.””
Daniel looked as though he wanted to argue, but the phone continued vibrating against his palm.
Finally, he answered.
“Mom?””
His voice was different now.
S against his palm.
Finally, he answered.
“Mom?””
His voice was different now.
Softer.
Almost nervous.
I couldn't hear Margaret'softer.
Almost nervous.
I couldn't hear Margaret's words clearly, but I could hear the distress in her voice.
“Daniel, I've words clearly, but I could hear the distress in her voice.
“Daniel, I've been trying to reach you all morning. What is going on?””
“Nothing's wrong, Mom. I'm at work.””
“Then why did I receive a message telling me to call you immediately?””
Daniel been trying to reach you all morning. What is going on?””
“Nothing's wrong, Mom. I'm at work.””
“Then why did I receive a message telling me to call you immediately?””
Daniel's eyes flickered toward me.
“What message?””
“From your secretary. Paige Hollis. She said there's eyes flickered toward me.
“What message?””
“From your secretary. Paige Hollis. She said there was a problem involving a watch I was supposed to receive.””
For several seconds, Daniel didn't speak.
I was a problem involving a watch I was supposed to receive.””
For several seconds, Daniel didn't speak.
I felt my pulse quicken.
Margaret continued.
“She asked whether I had received a felt my pulse quicken.
Margaret continued.
“She asked whether I had received a package from you last month. I told her I hadn't. Then she stopped responding to my messages package from you last month.
I told her I hadn't. Then she stopped responding to my messages.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
I sat very still.
Paige had contacted his mother.
The.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
I sat very still.
Paige had contacted his mother.
The woman whose gift she had supposedly borrowed had somehow become involved in the situation, and woman whose gift she had supposedly borrowed had somehow become involved in the situation, and Paige had apparently decided to reach out before Daniel could explain anything.
“Mom, I can Paige had apparently decided to reach out before Daniel could explain anything.
“Mom, I can explain,” Daniel said.
“Then explain.””
He glanced toward the door explain,” Daniel said.
“Then explain.””
He glanced toward the door again.
“Not over the phone.””
“Daniel, I've been asking you about this watch for weeks again.
“Not over the phone.””
“Daniel, I've been asking you about this watch for weeks. You told me you had ordered it. You told me it had arrived. You even said you.
You told me you had ordered it. You told me it had arrived. You even said you were going to bring it over before my birthday.””
Margaret's voice broke were going to bring it over before my birthday.””
Margaret's voice broke slightly.
“Did you buy it or not?””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“I bought slightly.
“Did you buy it or not?””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“I bought it.””
“Then where is it?””
Silence.
I watched my husband struggle with a question that should have been easy it.””
“Then where is it?””
Silence.
I watched my husband struggle with a question that should have been easy to answer.
Finally, he said, “I gave it to someone temporarily.””
“To whom?””
He hesitated.
“ to answer.
Finally, he said, “I gave it to someone temporarily.””
“To whom?””
He hesitated.
“Paige.””
I looked down at the table.
Even now, he couldn't bring himself to say thatPaige.””
I looked down at the table.
Even now, he couldn't bring himself to say that he had given the watch to his secretary without his mother's knowledge.
Margaret was silent for a long moment.
Then she he had given the watch to his secretary without his mother's knowledge.
Margaret was silent for a long moment.
Then she asked, “Why does your secretary have the gift you told me you bought for me?””
Daniel's asked, “Why does your secretary have the gift you told me you bought for me?””
Daniel's shoulders slumped.
“I made a mistake.””
“A mistake?””
“Yes.””
“What kind of mistake, Daniel?””
He didn't answer shoulders slumped.
“I made a mistake.””
“A mistake?””
“Yes.””
“What kind of mistake, Daniel?””
He didn't answer.
Margaret let out a quiet breath.
“Is there something happening between you.
Margaret let out a quiet breath.
“Is there something happening between you and this woman?””
Daniel's head snapped up.
“Mom, don't be ridiculous.””
“Then and this woman?””
Daniel's head snapped up.
“Mom, don't be ridiculous.””
“Then why are you giving her expensive gifts that were meant for your family?””
I watched him.
His expression why are you giving her expensive gifts that were meant for your family?””
I watched him.
His expression had changed from embarrassment to anger.
“It's complicated.””
“No. It's a had changed from embarrassment to anger.
“It's complicated.””
“No. It's a very simple question. Did you give Paige my watch because you wanted to make her happy?””
He looked very simple question. Did you give Paige my watch because you wanted to make her happy?””
He looked toward the window.
“I'll come by tonight and explain everything.””
“I don't want toward the window.
“I'll come by tonight and explain everything.””
“I don't want another promise.””
Her voice had become firm.
“I want the truth.””
Then she ended the call.
Daniel another promise.””
Her voice had become firm.
“I want the truth.””
Then she ended the call.
Daniel lowered his phone slowly.
For a moment, the room was silent except for the hum of the air conditioning.
I had lowered his phone slowly.
For a moment, the room was silent except for the hum of the air conditioning.
I had always admired Margaret's directness.
She had raised Daniel largely through always admired Margaret's directness.
She had raised Daniel largely through difficult years when his father traveled constantly for work. She had taught him to take responsibility, to keep difficult years when his father traveled constantly for work. She had taught him to take responsibility, to keep his word, and to understand that money could buy comfort but never character.
I remembered her telling me once his word, and to understand that money could buy comfort but never character.
I remembered her telling me once that the greatest disappointment wasn't discovering someone had made a mistake.
It was discovering they had worked that the greatest disappointment wasn't discovering someone had made a mistake.
It was discovering they had worked harder to conceal it than to correct it.
I looked at Daniel.
“Your mother deserves an explanation.””
He put harder to conceal it than to correct it.
I looked at Daniel.
“Your mother deserves an explanation.””
He put his phone down.
“I know.””
“Then give her one.””
He laughed bitterly.
“You make it sound so easy.””
“It his phone down.
“I know.””
“Then give her one.””
He laughed bitterly.
“You make it sound so easy.””
“It is easy to tell the truth.””
“Not when the truth could destroy everything.””
I went is easy to tell the truth.””
“Not when the truth could destroy everything.””
I went still.
“What exactly could it destroy?””
He looked at me, and still.
“What exactly could it destroy?””
He looked at me, and for the first time, I saw something close to desperation in his expression.
“N for the first time, I saw something close to desperation in his expression.
“Natalie, there are things you don't understand about my position.””
“Thenatalie, there are things you don't understand about my position.””
“Then help me understand.””
He paced to the window.
“When I joined Bellweather, I spent years building relationships, earning trust, and proving I could handle the pressure. I didn't inherit my position. I worked help me understand.””
He paced to the window.
“When I joined Bellweather, I spent years building relationships, earning trust, and proving I could handle the pressure. I didn't inherit my position. I worked for it.””
“I know.””
“Do you? Because you walked into this building today and suddenly everyone is treating me like I'm the problem for it.””
“I know.””
“Do you? Because you walked into this building today and suddenly everyone is treating me like I'm the problem.””
I stared at him.
“You were the one who told me to go home.””
“Because I was trying to protect.””
I stared at him.
“You were the one who told me to go home.””
“Because I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
He turned sharply.
“From Paige.””
The answer surprised me.
I studied his you.””
“From what?””
He turned sharply.
“From Paige.””
The answer surprised me.
I studied his face.
“Explain.””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he sat down.
“Paige knows people. She has relationships with face.
“Explain.””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he sat down.
“Paige knows people. She has relationships with employees, vendors, and several senior managers. She's been involved in projects that go employees, vendors, and several senior managers.
She's been involved in projects that go back years. If she feels threatened, she can make things difficult.””
“Difficult for whom?””
back years. If she feels threatened, she can make things difficult.””
“Difficult for whom?””
“For everyone.””
I leaned forward.
“Are you telling me you're afraid of your own secretary?””
““For everyone.””
I leaned forward.
“Are you telling me you're afraid of your own secretary?””
“I'm telling you that you don't know how things work hereI'm telling you that you don't know how things work here yet.””
“I know enough to recognize when someone believes she is above the rules.””
He shook his head.
“You think this is just about a drink and a watch.””
“Is yet.””
“I know enough to recognize when someone believes she is above the rules.””
He shook his head.
“You think this is just about a drink and a watch.””
“Isn't it?””
“No.””
He looked at me for a long moment.
“Paige has access to things most people don't. Schedules. Correspondence.
Executive approvals. Internal records. She knows wheren't it?””
“No.””
He looked at me for a long moment.
“Paige has access to things most people don't. Schedules. Correspondence.
Executive approvals. Internal records. She knows where the bodies are buried, so to speak.””
The phrase made my stomach tighten.
“Are you suggesting the bodies are buried, so to speak.””
The phrase made my stomach tighten.
“Are you suggesting she's doing something illegal?””
“I'm suggesting you should be careful about assuming you understand the she's doing something illegal?””
“I'm suggesting you should be careful about assuming you understand the entire situation.””
I studied him.
“Do you know about anything improper she's entire situation.””
I studied him.
“Do you know about anything improper she's done?””
He didn't answer quickly enough.
“Daniel?””
“I've heard rumors.””
“What kind of rumors?””
“Nothing done?””
He didn't answer quickly enough.
“Daniel?””
“I've heard rumors.””
“What kind of rumors?””
“Nothing concrete.””
“Then why didn't you investigate?””
“Because I had no proof.””
I concrete.””
“Then why didn't you investigate?””
“Because I had no proof.””
I nodded slowly.
That answer, at least, was reasonable.
But it raised another question.
“Did you ever consider nodded slowly.
That answer, at least, was reasonable.
But it raised another question.
“Did you ever consider that she might be using your trust to protect herself?””
He looked away.
I knew then that she might be using your trust to protect herself?””
He looked away.
I knew then that the possibility had occurred to him.
Perhaps many times.
Yet he had chosen not to examine it.
that the possibility had occurred to him.
Perhaps many times.
Yet he had chosen not to examine it.
I stood and walked toward the door.
“Natalie, where are you going?””
“To speakI stood and walked toward the door.
“Natalie, where are you going?””
“To speak with the people responsible for investigating misconduct.””
“You can't do that without involving the board.””
“I am the CEO with the people responsible for investigating misconduct.””
“You can't do that without involving the board.””
“I am the CEO. I can initiate a review within the company's. I can initiate a review within the company's established procedures.””
His face tightened.
“And if you find something?””
“Then we'll deal with it.””
He stood.
established procedures.””
His face tightened.
“And if you find something?””
“Then we'll deal with it.””
He stood.
“What if the investigation affects my department?””
“Then your“What if the investigation affects my department?””
“Then your department will be investigated.””
“What if it affects me?””
I paused.
Then I turned to face him.
“Especially department will be investigated.””
“What if it affects me?””
I paused.
Then I turned to face him.
“Especially then.””
For several seconds, he stared at me.
I could almost see the moment he realized that my appointment then.””
For several seconds, he stared at me.
I could almost see the moment he realized that my appointment had changed more than the seating arrangement in the boardroom.
It had changed the balance of power he had changed more than the seating arrangement in the boardroom.
It had changed the balance of power he had taken for granted.
I opened the door.
Paige was standing several feet away, speaking quietly to a man had taken for granted.
I opened the door.
Paige was standing several feet away, speaking quietly to a man I recognized from the finance department.
The moment she saw me, she ended the conversation I recognized from the finance department.
The moment she saw me, she ended the conversation.
“Ms. Mercer,” she said sweetly.
“I was hoping we could speak.””
“.
“Ms. Mercer,” she said sweetly.
“I was hoping we could speak.””
“About what?””
She glanced at Daniel.
“Something personal.””
“I'm listening.””
She swallowed.
Then she lifted her wristAbout what?””
She glanced at Daniel.
“Something personal.””
“I'm listening.””
She swallowed.
Then she lifted her wrist.
The white watch caught the light.
“I think there's been a misunderstanding about this.””
I waited.
Paige lowered her voice.
The white watch caught the light.
“I think there's been a misunderstanding about this.””
I waited.
Paige lowered her voice.
“Daniel gave it to me.””
Behind me, Daniel went completely still.
Paige continued.
“He told me it was a gift. I.
“Daniel gave it to me.””
Behind me, Daniel went completely still.
Paige continued.
“He told me it was a gift. I didn't know it was intended for his mother.””
I looked at her carefully.
“Did he tell didn't know it was intended for his mother.””
I looked at her carefully.
“Did he tell you that he had purchased it for Margaret?””
Her lips parted.
For a moment, she seemed you that he had purchased it for Margaret?””
Her lips parted.
For a moment, she seemed unable to decide which answer would protect her best.
“No,” she said finally.
I nodded.
“ unable to decide which answer would protect her best.
“No,” she said finally.
I nodded.
“Then why did you tell me earlier that I was trying to get close to Daniel when I asked where theThen why did you tell me earlier that I was trying to get close to Daniel when I asked where the watch came from?””
Paige's face flushed.
“I didn't know who you were.””
“That explains watch came from?””
Paige's face flushed.
“I didn't know who you were.””
“That explains your mistake in identifying me. It doesn't explain your behavior.””
She looked toward Daniel.
He didn't help her.
For your mistake in identifying me. It doesn't explain your behavior.””
She looked toward Daniel.
He didn't help her.
For the first time that day, he seemed unwilling to intervene.
I continued.
“You poured a drink on me the first time that day, he seemed unwilling to intervene.
I continued.
“You poured a drink on me. You insulted me. You claimed authority you weren't authorized to exercise. Then you attempted to make yourself.
You insulted me. You claimed authority you weren't authorized to exercise. Then you attempted to make yourself the victim.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I said it was an accident.””
“Then the victim.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I said it was an accident.””
“Then the investigation should establish what happened.””
Paige's expression changed.
The tears remained, but the fear behind the investigation should establish what happened.””
Paige's expression changed.
The tears remained, but the fear behind them became unmistakable.
“An investigation?””
“Yes.””
She looked at Daniel again.
“Daniel?””
them became unmistakable.
“An investigation?””
“Yes.””
She looked at Daniel again.
“Daniel?””
He swallowed.
“Paige, cooperate with the review.””
Her face went pale.
ItHe swallowed.
“Paige, cooperate with the review.””
Her face went pale.
It was a small sentence.
Four words.
But they marked the first time he had failed to rescue her.
I walked was a small sentence.
Four words.
But they marked the first time he had failed to rescue her.
I walked away before either of them could speak again.
At the end of the corridor, I stopped beside Emily away before either of them could speak again.
At the end of the corridor, I stopped beside Emily's desk.
She looked up, startled.
“Emily, could you help me arrange confidential interviews with the's desk.
She looked up, startled.
“Emily, could you help me arrange confidential interviews with the employees who were present this morning?””
Her eyes widened.
“Everyone who saw what happened?””
“Everyone employees who were present this morning?””
Her eyes widened.
“Everyone who saw what happened?””
“Everyone who is willing to provide a statement.””
She nodded slowly.
“Yes, Ms. Mercer.””
“And Emily?””
“Yes who is willing to provide a statement.””
She nodded slowly.
“Yes, Ms. Mercer.””
“And Emily?””
“Yes?””
“You won't face retaliation for cooperating.””
Her expression softened with visible?””
“You won't face retaliation for cooperating.””
Her expression softened with visible relief.
“Thank you.””
I returned to my office and opened a new document.
At the top, I typed a relief.
“Thank you.””
I returned to my office and opened a new document.
At the top, I typed a heading.
*Bellweather Technologies — Executive Conduct Review.*
Underneath it, I listed the issues requiring heading.
*Bellweather Technologies — Executive Conduct Review.*
Underneath it, I listed the issues requiring examination.
Unauthorized exercise of authority.
Workplace harassment.
Potential misuse of examination.
Unauthorized exercise of authority.
Workplace harassment.
Potential misuse of company resources.
Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
Then I added one final line.
**Review all relevant transactions, company resources.
Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
Then I added one final line.
*Review all relevant transactions, approvals, and communications associated with the executive office.*
I didn't know yet what the investigation would uncover.
But I knew something had changed.
Paige had spent approvals, and communications associated with the executive office.**
I didn't know yet what the investigation would uncover.
But I knew something had changed.
Paige had spent years making people afraid to challenge her.
Daniel had spent years allowing her to believe that his protection was unconditional.
years making people afraid to challenge her.
Daniel had spent years allowing her to believe that his protection was unconditional.
And now, for the first time, both of them understood that the rules they had treated as optional would applyAnd now, for the first time, both of them understood that the rules they had treated as optional would apply to them, too.
At 4:17 that afternoon, my phone rang.
It was Martin Cole from to them, too.
At 4:17 that afternoon, my phone rang.
It was Martin Cole from human resources.
“Ms. Mercer,” he said, “we've begun reviewing the records you requested.””
“Have you found anything?””
A human resources.
“Ms. Mercer,” he said, “we've begun reviewing the records you requested.””
“Have you found anything?””
A pause.
“Yes.””
His voice dropped.
“There is an issue involving several payments approved through the operations office. The amounts are significant, and some of the supporting pause.
“Yes.””
His voice dropped.
“There is an issue involving several payments approved through the operations office. The amounts are significant, and some of the supporting documentation appears incomplete.””
I sat upright.
“Do those payments involve Paige?””
“Some of documentation appears incomplete.””
I sat upright.
“Do those payments involve Paige?””
“Some of the approvals were processed through her account.””
“And Daniel?””
Another pause.
“His authorization appears on the approvals were processed through her account.””
“And Daniel?””
Another pause.
“His authorization appears on several of them.””
I closed my eyes briefly.
Then I asked the question I already knew I needed answered.
several of them.””
I closed my eyes briefly.
Then I asked the question I already knew I needed answered.
“How much money are we talking about?””
Martin gave me the total.
I stared at the wall.
It was far more than the price“How much money are we talking about?””
Martin gave me the total.
I stared at the wall.
It was far more than the price of a watch.
And suddenly, Daniel's warning about Paige's influence sounded less like a husband's attempt to protect his secretary and of a watch.
May you like
And suddenly, Daniel's warning about Paige's influence sounded less like a husband's attempt to protect his secretary and more like a man who was afraid of what an honest investigation might uncover.
more like a man who was afraid of what an honest investigation might uncover.
