“Who owns it?”
Silence.
The CEO leaned forward.
“Your brother-in-law?”
The director said nothing.
“That relationship was never disclosed.”
“He and my sister are separated.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“They’ve been separated for years.”
“Was he your brother-in-law when the first contract was awarded?”
Silence.
The CEO already knew.
Yes.
The director looked toward the door.
“My attorney.”
“Is on the way.”
The chairman checked his phone.
“Eleven minutes.”
The CEO closed both folders.
“Good.”
She stood.
The director looked at her.
“You’ve already decided.”
“No.”
The CEO turned.
“I’ve decided you do not supervise another employee while we investigate.”
“That’s different.”
She walked toward the door.
The director called after her.
“You’re going to destroy this branch.”
The CEO stopped.
Looked back.
“If this branch depends on people being afraid to tell the truth, it is already broken.”
Then she left.
The office remained silent when she emerged.
The CEO hated silence.
She stood in the center of the floor.
“Everyone stop working.”
People looked up.
Nobody moved.
“I mean it.”
Laptop lids lowered.
Hands left keyboards.
She took off the beige overcoat and placed it over a chair.
The gesture made her somehow less intimidating.
Then she said:
“My name is on your paychecks.”
A few nervous smiles.
“It is also on the systems that failed some of you.”