And ordered his team to stop the closing.
His gray-suited adviser rose immediately.
Another executive began checking the documents on his tablet.
Whitmore looked stunned.
Then angry.
Then frightened.
And when I told them my name, he whispered that I was supposed to be gone.
Mr. Lam heard him.
So did the others.
The words hung between us.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Mr. Lam spoke.
"Charles."
Whitmore looked toward him.
"What?"
"What did you mean?"
Whitmore forced a smile.
"Nothing."
Mr. Lam's expression hardened.
"You said she was supposed to be gone."
Whitmore looked toward me.
Then gave a short laugh.
"I recognize the name. She worked for one of the transaction service providers."
Mr. Lam turned toward me.
"Is that correct?"
I swallowed.
"Yes."
Whitmore leaned forward.
"She was dismissed."
I felt my jaw tighten.
Mr. Lam looked back at him.
"For what reason?"
Whitmore waved one hand.
"Performance. Internal issues. I don't know the details."
He looked toward his associates.
"Really, Raymond, this is absurd. Are we going to allow a former employee serving lunch to derail a major transaction?"
Mr. Lam remained calm.
He turned toward me.
"What exactly did you review?"
I took a slow breath.
"Financial schedules and bilingual supporting materials connected to the transaction, within the scope of my former role."
He nodded.
"And what did you find?"
I looked toward the folder.
"An apparent change in the forty-million-dollar modernization reserve. I reported that the revised schedule appeared to alter the release conditions and recipient information."
The room became quiet.
Whitmore interrupted.
"That's completely misleading."
Mr. Lam raised one hand.
"Let her finish."
Whitmore stared.
For the first time, someone had interrupted him rather than me.
I continued.
"I couldn't locate supporting approval in the materials made available to my team. I submitted a discrepancy alert. I was later told it had been resolved, but I never saw the authorization supporting the change."
Mr. Lam's adviser looked toward him.
He seemed concerned.
I swallowed.
"I'm not claiming I can establish what the final approved arrangement is from standing here. I'm saying you should have your legal and finance teams verify the disbursement instructions before signing."
Mr. Lam studied me.
Then nodded slowly.
"That is reasonable."
Whitmore gave a sharp laugh.
"Reasonable?"
He pointed toward me.