“This is ridiculous,” Diane said as the human resources director placed several envelopes on the table.
“My son cannot be suspended because of this woman’s whim.”
Arthur appeared on a video call from a tablet screen and spoke with the calm of a man who already had every document signed.
“This is not a provisional suspension on a whim, Mrs. Morrison.”
It is an immediate separation for cause, subject to confirmatory audit.
And to avoid further confusion: Ms. Cassidy Vale is the controlling beneficiary of the V-12 trust, which holds the majority stake in Asteron Global.
The silence that followed was almost beautiful.
Brendan went white.
“No,” he finally said.
“No.
That can’t be.
Cassidy no…».
HE
He interrupted because he had just remembered all the times I had avoided answering questions about money with calm evasions.
All the times I hadn’t shown ambition because I didn’t need to prove it.
All the times he had confused absence of boasting with absence of power.
“You lied to me,” she blurted out.
I placed the towel on the chair and answered: “No.
You decided who I was without ever asking.
Leon took the floor and listed the immediate effects.
The residence we were in was a property leased by the company as an executive benefit, so it was revoked at that very moment.
The corporate vehicles assigned to Brendan would be removed that night.
Digital access, cards, credit lines, and signature authorizations had already been cancelled.
Jessica was removed from any hiring process and her email was blocked.
Diane was removed from the board of the Asteron Foundation pending a full review of expenses.
The house manager, red-faced with embarrassment, announced that staff would only remain until midnight to hand over inventory and keys.
Even the wine cellar that Diane flaunted as if it were her crown was paid for with corporate funds.
Jessica was the first to lose her theatrical instinct.
“Brendan,” she murmured, “tell me this will be fixed.”
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