“A branch manager destroyed a financial instrument in front of witnesses, threatened to remove a customer who was following the verification process, and may have a history of retaliation against employees who raised concerns.”
She paused.
“What part of that suggests we should keep the review informal?”
The director lowered his eyes.
“None.”
She nodded.
“Good.”
Then she looked toward the door.
“Please arrange for the manager to be relieved of customer-facing responsibilities pending the independent review, consistent with our employment procedures.”
He nodded.
“And her access to relevant records?”
“Preserve what needs to be preserved. Make sure compliance and information security handle it properly.”
The director took notes.
The CEO continued.
“No public declaration of guilt before the facts are examined. No destroying evidence. No coaching witnesses. No retaliating against employees.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
She paused.
“And no attempting to make the problem disappear because it happened to the new CEO.”
He looked up.
She leaned forward.
“If an ordinary customer had brought that check, the bank would still owe them a fair process.”
The director nodded slowly.
“I understand.”
But his expression suggested he was only beginning to.
When he left the room, the CEO remained seated.
For several minutes, she stared at the reflection of the lime-green satin in the conference table.
The gown had been chosen because it reminded her of her mother.
Now it felt strange.
Almost too bright for the emotions she was carrying.
She looked toward the small metallic-silver handbag resting beside her chair.
Inside was a photograph.
Her mother standing in a hospital corridor wearing navy-blue scrubs.
A little boy beside her.
Both smiling.
The photograph had been taken near the end of her mother's career.
The boy was a former patient who had returned to visit the nursing team.