Chapter 13 - THE LAST CHANCE
Arthur arrived at Nora’s office carrying a sealed document envelope.
He had brought his own attorney.
That told everyone the conversation mattered.
“I prepared the first draft,” he said.
Maddie looked at him.
“You knew I was pregnant.”
“I knew you had reported a pregnancy. Eleanor told me the clinic later confirmed failure.”
“And you believed her?”
“I chose not to verify.”
Nora opened the envelope.
The original signature had been copied from Maddie’s settlement and placed onto the addendum.
Arthur’s office had produced the final document.
Lila had uploaded it.
Eleanor had approved it.
Arthur had certified its execution.
Vance’s jaw tightened.
“You let us spend days chasing who held the pen.”
Arthur lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
Maddie leaned forward.
“Why tell us now?”
“My assistant saved the draft emails. The independent reviewers requested them.”
“So this isn’t courage.”
“No.”
For the first time, Arthur sounded honest.
Nora kept the meeting moving.
Dates.
Names.
Instructions.
Documents.
Arthur agreed to provide a formal statement and cooperate with the appropriate investigations.
Then he produced another email.
Eleanor to Peter Wren.
The birth has occurred. Close the remaining file before she uses it to reopen contact.
Maddie covered her mouth.
Vance looked away, fighting the urge to smash something.
Nora gave them time.
Then she said, “This connects the people involved. It still needs corroboration from the clinic’s records.”
By evening, the independent review team had enough to recommend Eleanor’s removal from company committees while the inquiry continued.
The annual meeting remained scheduled.
Eleanor called Vance once.
He didn’t answer.
She left a message.
“You can save the company or indulge this woman. You cannot do both.”
Maddie heard it because he played it for Nora.
Her expression hardened.
“I’m not an indulgence.”
“No,” Vance said.
“You never were.”
At seven, Elise called.
Someone had sent a forged email from Maddie’s account to the daycare authorizing a new pickup person.
The daycare had refused because the name wasn’t on its approved list.
The children were safe with Elise.
Nora immediately contacted the investigating officer.
Vance turned toward the door.
May you like
His mother had stopped trying to win an argument.
Someone was trying to move the children.
