The CEO Shoved an Elderly Woman Asking for Bread—Then Learned She Owned the Company
Chapter 9
Samuel placed a sealed envelope on the table.
Margaret opened it.
Inside was a series of financial transfers.
Millions of dollars.
They moved through three consulting companies before reaching an investment firm controlled by a man named Gregory Hale.
Margaret frowned.
“Who is he?”
“Former board adviser.”
“I don’t remember approving these payments.”
“You didn’t.”
Margaret looked at Samuel.
“How long?”
“Four years.”
She read the documents carefully.
“Victoria?”
Samuel shook his head.
“We don’t know yet.”
Margaret leaned back.
“So Victoria wasn’t the only problem.”
“No.”
Samuel lowered his voice.
“Someone inside the company has been diverting money.”
Margaret looked toward the cafeteria.
Employees continued eating.
The company she had built might have been bleeding from the inside.
She turned the page.
There were more names.
Senior executives.
Outside contractors.
Two directors.
And one person Margaret knew personally.
Her own nephew.
Michael Whitmore.
Margaret’s face changed.
Michael had been with the company for twelve years.
She had trusted him.
“He told me the expansion project was over budget.”
Samuel nodded.
“It was.”
“How much?”
“Twenty-six million.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“Where did it go?”
Samuel pointed to the final page.
“That’s what we’re trying to determine.”
Margaret looked at him.
“Don’t accuse anyone yet.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
She stood.
“People should be judged by evidence.”
Samuel nodded.
Margaret picked up her cane.
“And I don’t want another person punished because someone powerful decided they looked guilty.”
Samuel smiled.
“You’re thinking about yesterday.”
Margaret looked at the bread still sitting on the table.
“I am.”
