She Laughed When the Intern Fell Into the Pool—Then the $4.7 Billion Deal Stopped

At eight the next morning, Maya’s internship badge stopped working.

Security met her in the lobby. The guard looked embarrassed as he told her she was being placed on leave pending a review of “improper access to confidential files.”

Maya had accessed only folders she was authorized to handle. Evelyn had warned her this could happen anyway.

“Can I get my bag?” Maya asked.

“It’s already here.”

Her bag sat on the security desk. The zipper was half open.

Outside, Maya checked for her notebook. It was gone.

She called Evelyn from the sidewalk.

“Don’t go back inside,” Evelyn said. “I’m coming to you.”

Maya spotted Richard through the lobby glass. He stood near the elevators, watching her. Martin came up beside him and said something Maya couldn’t hear.

Richard looked away.

Evelyn arrived twenty minutes later. They went straight to a lawyer’s office, where Maya documented the missing notebook and the text about Samuel. Evelyn sent the materials to the independent merger committee.

By afternoon, Whitmore had issued a statement to Northline: an intern was under investigation for mishandling company information. Maya’s name appeared nowhere, but she recognized the move.

“They’re making me the problem,” she told Evelyn.

“They’re trying to.”

Eli called from a number she didn’t recognize.

“I didn’t quit,” he said. “They told me to sign a statement saying I’d altered the supplier report. I refused.”

“Where are you?”

“At my sister’s. I’ve already spoken with my lawyer.”

“Do you have the final report?”

“No. But I know who printed it.”

“Who?”

“Martin’s assistant. Her name is Tessa Bell. She’s been recording every change he ordered for months.”

“Will she talk?”

“She’s scared.”