Chapter 3 - The Archived Email
The room smelled of catered filet mignon, expensive scotch, and arrogance.
Harrison sat at the head of the mahogany table. Eleanor was pouring champagne. And sitting side-by-side, their hands intertwined on the polished wood, were Thad and Laurel. Thad had changed out of his uniform into a dark suit. Laurel was wearing the kind of smug, radiant smile reserved for a woman who believed she had just successfully stolen a kingdom.
When I walked in, the conversation abruptly died.
"Sarah," Harrison said, clearing his throat, attempting to project a stern, patriarchal authority. "We didn't expect you. Thad told us about the... misunderstanding at the airport."
"It’s for the best, really," Eleanor chimed in, taking a sip of champagne, not even trying to hide her satisfaction. "Thad needs softness right now, Sarah. Someone to support him, not manage him. You’ve always been a bit too... clinical."
Thad looked down at the table, unable to meet my eyes. "Sarah, I'm sorry. Laurel and I reconnected during my last deployment. It just happened. But my father and I have discussed it, and we agree it's time for you to step down as interim COO. We'll offer you a generous severance for your help these past few years."
"A severance," I repeated softly.
I walked past them to the head of the room and picked up the remote for the projector.
"Before we discuss my exit, Thaddeus," I said smoothly, "I wanted to review the company’s internal communications security. As acting COO, I monitor all corporate servers. Including the encrypted military-to-civilian relays you used to bypass my personal inbox."
I clicked the remote.
The eighty-inch screen on the wall lit up.
It was an email thread dated four months ago, between Thad's secure server, Eleanor’s private account, and Laurel.
ELEANOR: The restructuring is almost complete. Sarah secured the bridge loan from the private equity firm today. The company is solvent.
May you like
LAUREL: Thank God. I can't wait for you to come home, baby.
THAD: Just let her finish the final audits. Once she signs the liability waivers next month, I'll break it off. Laurel can take over the foundation board. Sarah served her purpose, but I'm not marrying my accountant.
