"Naomi, we also need to discuss Edmund."
She leaned back.
"I know."
Edmund Royce had been with the company for nearly eight years.
He joined when Ellis Horizon was still growing.
He helped establish administrative procedures, negotiate leases, and coordinate executive travel.
For a long time, Naomi trusted him.
But as the company expanded, she began noticing that Edmund preferred informal arrangements to documented approvals.
He believed relationships mattered more than systems.
He liked solving problems through personal calls.
And he resented the controls introduced when Julian took responsibility for transportation operations.
Naomi had gradually reduced Edmund's authority.
His role shifted toward advisory work.
Certain approval powers were removed.
And the company required more formal documentation for high-value commitments.
Edmund never openly refused the changes.
But he complained.
Privately.
Constantly.
He told colleagues that the company had become bureaucratic.
That Naomi was surrounded by people who didn't understand how business really worked.
And that too many younger employees were hiding behind procedures instead of making decisions.
Now his name appeared repeatedly in the flight irregularities.
Julian looked toward Naomi.
"The independent review needs to examine whether Edmund knowingly represented himself as authorized to approve these movements."
She nodded.
"And whether he benefited financially."
"Yes."
Naomi stared toward the garden.
For several seconds, she thought about the early years.
Edmund helping negotiate the company's first office lease.
Attending difficult meetings.
Encouraging her when financing became uncertain.
He had been part of her professional life for years.
The possibility that he'd exploited that relationship hurt.
But she understood something important.
Loyalty to a person couldn't replace responsibility to the organization.
She turned toward Julian.
"Proceed."
He nodded.
She continued.
"And make sure Edmund has the opportunity to respond through the proper process."
Julian looked toward her.
"Of course."
Naomi lowered her eyes toward the report.
She felt tired.
Not because she doubted what needed to happen.
Because making the right decision didn't always make the decision painless.
Edmund arrived for his meeting wearing an expensive gray suit and an expression of irritation.
He sat across from the independent reviewers.
His attorney sat beside him.
The questions began with the aircraft approval process.