“Last structural review?”
Maya knew.
“Eight years.”
Aaron looked at her.
“That’s long.”
“Permit doesn’t require more frequent.”
“I didn’t ask permit.”
Maya felt defensive.
Then stopped herself.
“You’re right.”
He continued.
“Any capital plan for replacement?”
She hesitated.
There was.
The replacement had been scheduled for next year.
Possibly now delayed because of cash.
Aaron noticed hesitation.
“What?”
Maya said:
“We planned full north containment upgrade next fiscal year.”
“Funded?”
“Budgeted.”
“Still?”
There it was.
The spreadsheet.
The acquisition offer.
The cash problem now connected directly to environmental infrastructure.
Maya answered truthfully.
“Under review.”
Aaron wrote.
She hated that.
Not him.
The fact.
At four, preliminary creek samples came back normal.
No evidence contaminated water reached Miller Creek.
The abnormal reading remained contained inside site boundary.
Maya almost cried from relief.
Aaron did not smile.
“Good.”
Then:
“Still need corrective action.”
“Yes.”
“Temporary repair is not enough.”
“I know.”
“Full engineering assessment.”
“Yes.”
He looked at her.
“You sound annoyed.”
“I’m tired.”
“That’s allowed.”
Maya smiled despite herself.
He continued:
“Cedar Creek has good compliance history.”
“That helps.”
“It doesn’t make dirt stronger.”
She nodded.
“Fair.”
The inspector left.
Jen stood beside Maya.
“So?”
“We replace north containment now.”
Jen stared.
“That’s at least two hundred fifty thousand.”
“I know.”
“Cash?”
“I know.”
Maya looked toward the bays.
Westland’s offer suddenly became harder to reject.
That evening the board met.
Seven members.
Two family.
Three employees.
One outside agricultural finance specialist.
One Harbor Point cooperative representative.
Maya presented the cash forecast.
Then the containment issue.
Then Westland’s offer.
Nobody spoke for nearly a minute.
Finally employee representative Marcus Boyd said:
“You waited until today to tell us the cash runway was nine weeks?”
Maya felt heat rise.
“Twelve to fourteen under mitigation.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“No.”
“You knew three weeks.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t board know?”
“The chair and finance committee knew.”
“I am board.”
He was right.
Maya said: