Chapter 3 â The Meeting Neither of Them Expected
Monday morning.
Nine o'clock.
Ricardo walked confidently into headquarters, convinced he could still save his career.
He stopped the second the elevator doors opened.
Every department head was already seated inside the executive boardroom.
Our attorneys.
Our CFO.
The HR director.
Even members of the Board of Directors.
Everyone looked unusually serious.
"Diana..."
He forced a smile.
"What is all this?"
I stood at the head of the conference table.
"Please have a seat."
He glanced around nervously.
"You could've just called me."
"I did."
"You ignored my calls all weekend."
His confidence disappeared.
Our company lawyer slid a thick folder across the table.
"Following an internal financial review," he began, "we've identified repeated misuse of corporate assets."
Ricardo stared at him.
"What?"
The CFO projected dozens of transactions onto the large screen.
Luxury jewelry.
Five-star resorts.
Private flights.
Designer boutiques.
Every receipt.
Every transfer.
Every hidden reimbursement.
Each one authorized using company funds he wasn't entitled to spend.
The room became painfully quiet.
"You embezzled company money," I said.
"No..." Ricardo stammered.
"I intended to pay it back."
"You never did."
The lawyer calmly placed another document in front of him.
"Your employment is terminated effective immediately."
"And civil proceedings begin today."
Ricardo looked around the room.
No one defended him.
No one even made eye contact.
Security entered quietly.
"I built this company!" Ricardo shouted.
I shook my head.
"No."
"You married the woman who did."
Security escorted him toward the door.
Before leaving, he turned toward me.
"You'll regret this."
I met his eyes without emotion.
"I already regretted marrying you."
May you like
The door closed behind him.
His access badge deactivated before he reached the parking lot.
