The chairwoman became very still.
The regional executive looked toward him.
He said:
“That is a lie.”
The employee immediately looked afraid.
The chairwoman turned toward the regional executive.
“Lock the customer-record system.”
The director stared.
“What?”
She continued:
“Preserve sales notes, walk-in logs, declined test-drive requests, discount approvals, financing referrals, complaint records, schedule changes, and security footage.”
The regional executive nodded.
The director stepped forward.
“You cannot do that based on an employee accusation.”
The chairwoman looked toward him.
“I can preserve company records whenever I want.”
“You’re treating me like a criminal.”
“No.”
She spoke carefully.
“I’m treating this like an allegation that deserves verification.”
That distinction mattered.
The director laughed bitterly.
“So now everything I’ve done for twelve years means nothing?”
The chairwoman studied him.
“No.”
“Everything you’ve done will be reviewed.”
“That means the good too.”
“If there is good.”
“And the bad.”
“If there is bad.”
The director stared.
He had expected instant execution.
Part of him almost preferred it.
A firing could become a story about an angry new owner.
A review would create records.
Patterns.
Numbers.
Emails.
Witnesses.
Harder to dismiss.
The chairwoman turned toward the employees.
“No one deletes anything.”
“No one changes notes.”
“No one contacts customers asking them to revise statements.”
“If you have information, preserve it.”
She looked toward the regional executive.
“Human resources and outside counsel today.”
“Yes.”
The director’s voice sharpened.
“And me?”
The chairwoman looked at him.
“You are suspended pending review.”
He almost smiled from relief.
Then she added:
“Access revoked immediately.”
The regional executive reached for his phone.
The director’s face hardened again.
“You’re going to walk me out?”
The chairwoman answered:
“Yes.”
“In front of everyone?”
She looked toward the burned document.
“You were comfortable making this public.”
He stared at her.
“That’s revenge.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“It’s security.”
The regional executive asked two senior managers to accompany the director to his office.
No guards grabbing his arms.
No humiliating search.
He walked.
Halfway across the showroom, he stopped.
Turned.
Looked directly at the chairwoman.
“You think you understand this business because you bought it.”
The chairwoman answered:
“No.”
“That’s why I’m reviewing it.”