Julian stood near the first step of the stage.
He kept looking from Malcolm to me.
The applause had stopped, but nobody had returned to their conversations.
Everyone was waiting.
Malcolm adjusted his microphone.
"Thank you. Before we proceed with the leadership transition, there are several matters concerning the company's financial position that require attention."
Julian moved closer.
"Malcolm, perhaps we should discuss this privately."
The chairman looked at him.
"We will discuss it through the appropriate channels."
Julian's smile disappeared.
I noticed Camilla moving away from him.
It was only a small step.
But I saw it.
A few minutes earlier, she had been holding his arm as though she were already the wife of the company's future president.
Now she seemed uncertain about standing next to him.
The general counsel approached Malcolm.
He carried a document folder.
The forensic accountant remained beside him.
I recognized the thin blue folder.
It contained six weeks of financial findings.
Malcolm opened his remarks.
"Our review identified a number of payments that require further examination. These transactions involved several vendors and approvals within the strategy department."
Julian looked toward the accountant.
"Which payments?"
The accountant didn't answer immediately.
The general counsel spoke instead.
"We have prepared a detailed report for the board."
Julian shook his head.
"This is an anniversary celebration. Surely this can wait until Monday."
Malcolm looked at him.
"The company has waited long enough."
Nobody spoke.
I watched Julian's hands.
He was rubbing his thumb against the side of his index finger.
It was something he did whenever he was nervous.
I had seen him do it before important meetings.
I had seen him do it when he received difficult phone calls.
I had never seen him do it while looking at me.
"Audrey," he said quietly.
I turned toward him.
"Yes?"
"Can we talk?"
"About what?"
He glanced at the people around us.
"Not here."
I remembered how easily he had told me to leave only minutes earlier.
Now he wanted privacy.
I didn't feel angry.
I felt tired.
"Let's hear what the chairman has to say."
His face tightened.
"Please."
That word surprised me.
Julian rarely said please when he wanted something.
He usually expected people to understand what he wanted without being asked.
But tonight was different.
Malcolm continued.
"The review was initiated after discrepancies appeared in certain vendor accounts. We requested an independent examination to establish whether the payments were legitimate."
The accountant opened his folder.
I looked toward him.
He gave a small nod.
The investigation had not been rushed.
Every payment had been checked.
Every approval had been traced.
Every company name had been verified as far as the available records allowed.
I had insisted on that.
If Julian had done nothing wrong, the report would show it.
If he had misused his position, the report would show that too.
I didn't want anyone punished because of a personal disagreement.
I wanted the truth.
The general counsel stepped forward.
"At this stage, the board is reviewing the findings and determining the appropriate next steps."
Julian interrupted.
"I approved payments because my department needed to move quickly. That's not unusual."
The chairman turned toward him.
"Nobody has said otherwise."
"Then why are we discussing this here?"
"Because the company's ownership has changed, and the board has a responsibility to understand the financial condition of the business."
Julian looked at me.
I knew what he was thinking.
He believed I had arranged this to embarrass him.
He didn't understand that I had no interest in destroying Aurelia to settle a marriage dispute.
I had invested because I believed the company could survive.
I wanted its employees to keep their jobs.
I wanted its clients to trust it again.
And I wanted the financial records to be honest.
Malcolm closed the folder.
"We will continue the review privately. Tonight, our immediate priority is recognizing the employees who have kept this company operating."
A few people applauded.
The room slowly relaxed.
But Julian didn't move.
He was still looking at me.
I stepped away from the microphone.
Malcolm leaned toward me.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes."
He looked at my shoulder.
I adjusted the blue silk strap.
"I'll be fine."
He nodded.
Then he offered his arm as we stepped away from the center of the stage.
I could hear people whispering.
Some were congratulating me.
Others were asking one another whether they had heard correctly.
I didn't stop to answer.
I wanted to speak to the employees.
Especially Denise.
She was standing beside one of the tables with both hands folded in front of her.
When she saw me approaching, she smiled nervously.
"Mrs. Vance, congratulations."
"Thank you, Denise."
She glanced toward Julian.
Then back at me.
"I suppose things are going to change."
I looked around the ballroom.
"Some things need to."
She nodded.
For the first time that evening, I felt the weight of the responsibility I had accepted.
The acquisition was official.
But ownership wasn't just a name on a document.
It meant making decisions that affected hundreds of families.
I couldn't let my marriage become the reason I forgot that.
Click here to continue reading: PART 6: My Husband Followed Me Away From the Ballroom and Asked Why I Had Never Told Him the Truth About My Mother
My Husband Wanted Me Gone Before the Biggest Announcement of His Career, But He Had No Idea Why I Had Come
Part 5 of 20
