By Wednesday morning, the finance team had completed another stage of its review.
I arrived at headquarters shortly after eight.
Rebecca was waiting in my office.
She had two folders.
One contained the employee interview notes.
The other contained the latest financial findings.
"Good morning, Margaret."
"Good morning. What's the update?"
She placed both folders on my desk.
"The employee interviews are consistent with several earlier complaints."
I opened the first folder.
"What did they say?"
"Several people described a workplace where questions were discouraged."
"Was that limited to one department?"
"Mostly Richard's division, although there are concerns involving a few supervisors."
I read the interview summaries.
Different employees had described similar experiences.
Some said they had stopped reporting problems because nothing changed.
Others said they feared being removed from important projects.
One employee had transferred to another division after a disagreement with a senior manager.
I looked at Rebecca.
"Did anyone report threats?"
"Not directly. But some described comments they interpreted as warnings about their future at the company."
I closed the folder.
"That needs to be examined carefully."
Rebecca nodded.
Then she opened the financial report.
"The independent team has identified several entries that require further documentation."
I studied the pages.
There were differences between some submitted expense descriptions and the supporting records.
Some approvals were incomplete.
A few transactions needed clarification from the relevant managers.
I didn't make assumptions.
"Have we confirmed that money was improperly used?"
"Not at this stage."
"Then we shouldn't describe it that way."
"Agreed."
I turned another page.
"Who approved these entries?"
Rebecca pointed to the names listed.
Richard appeared on several of the approval records.
I looked again.
"Has he been asked to explain each one?"
"Yes. His response is due tomorrow."
I nodded.
"Then we wait for the response."
Rebecca closed the folder.
"There is another issue."
I looked up.
"What is it?"
"Richard has contacted several senior employees since Monday."
"About the review?"
"Apparently. Some employees say he has been asking what they told the investigation team."
My expression changed.
"Has that been documented?"
"Yes. The independent review team has recorded the reports."
I sat back.
"That could discourage people from cooperating."
"That's our concern."
I thought for a moment.
"Send a written instruction to all relevant managers. Nobody is to interfere with interviews or question employees about confidential statements."
Rebecca made a note.
"And make sure the employees know they can contact the independent team directly."
"Understood."
I looked at the clock.
There was another meeting scheduled for ten.
Before Rebecca left, I asked her to arrange a short update with James.
I wanted the operational side of the division reviewed as well.
Financial reporting was important.
But so were the people doing the actual work.
James arrived at ten-fifteen.
He brought updated production figures.
We discussed delivery schedules, equipment maintenance, staffing, and customer commitments.
The division was still performing reasonably well.
But several teams were operating below their normal staffing levels.
James explained that the employee departures had created pressure.
"We're managing," he said.
"But?"
He looked at the report.
"But some experienced people have left, and replacing them takes time."
"Can we support the remaining employees?"
"Yes. We may need temporary staffing assistance."
"Arrange it."
He nodded.
Then he added something I hadn't expected.
"Some employees are nervous about what will happen to them if Richard loses his position."
I looked at him.
"Why would they think their jobs depend on him?"
James hesitated.
"Because he has made himself central to many decisions."
I understood.
A manager should never make an entire department feel that it cannot function without him.
I asked James to prepare a continuity plan.
The company needed to keep operating regardless of what happened with Richard.
After the meeting, I returned to my office.
My phone showed two missed calls from Daniel.
I called him back.
"Hi, sweetheart."
"Mom, do you have a minute?"
"Yes."
He sounded different.
Quieter.
"Vanessa and I talked last night."
I put down my pen.
"How did it go?"
"Not well."
I waited.
He told me that Vanessa had defended her father's behavior.
She said Richard was under pressure.
She said powerful people sometimes made jokes that others misunderstood.
She also said Daniel should have supported her father at dinner instead of confronting him.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"How did you respond?"
"I told her that I wouldn't apologize for defending you."
I closed my eyes briefly.
"I'm proud of you."
He sighed.
"But I don't know what happens now."
"Take your time."
"I thought she would understand."
"Sometimes people show us what they believe when something difficult happens."
He was quiet.
Then he asked whether Richard might lose his job.
I answered honestly.
"The review is ongoing. No final decision has been made."
"Vanessa thinks you're trying to destroy her father."
"I'm trying to understand what has happened inside my company."
"I know."
We spoke for a few more minutes.
After the call, I returned to the financial report.
There were still questions to answer.
And I intended to get those answers.
That afternoon, Rebecca informed me that Richard had requested another meeting.
He wanted to discuss his position and the review.
I considered the request.
"Arrange it for tomorrow morning."
"With the board?"
"With the appropriate executive representatives and legal counsel."
Rebecca nodded.
"Should I tell him to bring the requested documentation?"
"Yes. Every outstanding record."
I looked at the folder on my desk.
The blue cover was slightly worn from being handled so many times.
Inside were the complaints of employees who had spent months trying to be heard.
Their names mattered.
Their work mattered.
And their concerns deserved more attention than the pride of one senior manager.
I closed the folder.
Then I looked out over the office floor.
People were working.
Phones were ringing.
Documents were moving between departments.
The company was alive because thousands of people showed up every day and did their jobs.
I had built it with Robert.
But I had never built it alone.
That was something Richard had apparently forgotten.
Click here to continue reading: PART 9: Richard Walked Into the Second Meeting Carrying a Folder, but the Answers Inside Were Not Nearly as Complete as He Had Promised
The Evening My Future Daughter-in-Law’s Father Mistook My Quiet Life for a Reason to Humiliate Me
Part 8 of 24
