Chapter 7 - THE TEMPORARY CHAIRWOMAN
The Cardenas board convened the following morning.
Veronica sat at the head of the table.
Adrian Vega sat beside her as a strategic adviser.
Teresa entered with Arthur, Lucy, and two independent auditors.
A director near the end of the table whispered something about the cook.
Teresa heard him.
She sat directly across from Veronica.
“Employees are not permitted in closed board sessions,” Veronica said.
Teresa placed the trust certificate on the table.
“Controlling shareholders are.”
Adrian smiled.
“You may own paper, Ms. Morales.”
“You do not understand this business.”
Teresa looked at him.
“I understand when money disappears from a medical fund.”
The auditors distributed preliminary reports.
Veronica stopped smiling.
The report identified unauthorized transfers, false consulting invoices, and the planned warehouse sale.
Adrian leaned back.
“These are ordinary restructuring strategies.”
“Then why were they hidden from the board?” Lucy asked.
Veronica looked at her.
“This is not a classroom.”
Lucy had recently completed a graduate program in forensic accounting.
She opened a second binder.
“No.”
“It is a crime scene.”
The board members began reading.
Mateo’s signature appeared on several transfers.
He stared at the documents.
“Veronica told me these were tax adjustments.”
“You signed them,” Adrian said.
“You are responsible too.”
Mateo looked sick.
Teresa asked for three emergency votes.
Freeze all related-party transactions.
Protect employee accounts.
Suspend Veronica and Adrian’s authority during the audit.
Veronica stood.
“You cannot remove me from my father’s company.”
Teresa remained seated.
“This company belonged to your grandfather, your father, my mother, thousands of workers, and now a trust.”
“It was never only yours.”
The votes passed.
Veronica lost temporary control.
Adrian’s consulting contract was terminated.
As security escorted them out, Veronica stopped beside Teresa.
“You will beg me to fix this within a week.”
Teresa looked at the woman who had fired her over three drops of wine.
May you like
“I cooked for this family for fifteen years.”
“I already know how to work under pressure.”
