Part 2: Tomorrow
By early afternoon, rumors were racing through the building.
Apparently, Celeste had been telling employees that I had behaved inappropriately toward Julian and tried to take advantage of my access to the executive dining room.
One colleague quietly warned me that Celeste was determined to get me fired.
I thanked her.
Then, shortly before three, I received a message summoning me to a conference room.
When I arrived, Celeste was already there.
Two security officers stood near the door.
A termination notice lay on the table.
Celeste pushed it toward me.
“Sign this.”
I looked down at the document.
It accused me of harassment, theft, and inappropriate behavior toward the CEO.
Every allegation was false.
I slowly looked up.
“Who prepared this?”
Celeste smiled.
“Human Resources approved it.”
“Did they?”
She leaned forward.
“You really thought you could walk into this company and compete with me?”
I stayed silent.
She went on.
“Let me explain something. I’m the woman Julian goes home to emotionally, whether you like it or not. We’re practically married.”
Then she raised her left hand.
A diamond ring glittered under the conference room lights.
“Julian gave me this last month.”
I recognized the design immediately.
I had seen it before.
Not on her hand.
On a jeweler’s invoice tied to Hartwell Industries’ executive spending account.
Forty-eight thousand dollars.
At the time, I had wondered why such an expensive piece of jewelry appeared among questionable corporate expenses.
Now I was beginning to understand.
Celeste mistook my silence for jealousy.
“Impressive, isn’t it?”
I glanced at the ring.
“Very.”
She smiled smugly.
“Now sign the document before I have security escort you out.”
I picked up the termination notice and read it once more.
Then I set it back on the table.
“I’d like a copy.”
Celeste laughed.
“What for? Planning to take legal action?”
I gave her a small smile.
“Something along those lines.”
I left without signing.
She had no idea that the independent audit committee had already been investigating the suspicious transactions for six weeks.
And earlier that same day, the outside forensic accountants had delivered their preliminary findings.
The money had been flowing through a company called Meridian Strategic Supply.
According to the records, its registered owner was Celeste’s brother.
Several invoices described consulting services that investigators could not verify.
Some of the transactions carried Julian’s electronic approvals.
And the diamond ring was only one of several purchases that needed further explanation.
At four that afternoon, Margaret Ellis called me.
Her voice was serious.
“Maya, we’ve reviewed the preliminary findings. There’s enough evidence to recommend immediate action against Julian’s spending authority and to refer the questionable transactions for further investigation.”
I closed my eyes.
“Are the records preserved?”
“Yes. Outside counsel has copies, and the audit committee has documented its findings.”
I thought about my father.
I remembered him coming home from his first workshop with machine oil on his hands.
I remembered how proudly he had talked about the employees who helped him build the business.
Hartwell Industries was not simply a source of income.
It was the result of decades of work.
And hundreds of families depended on its future.
“Margaret,” I said quietly, “this isn’t only about my marriage anymore.”
“I know.”
“I want the board to handle everything properly. We need to protect the employees and the company.”
“Then we’ll proceed tomorrow.”
That evening, Julian came home carrying flowers.
He walked into the kitchen wearing the look of a man who expected a quick reconciliation.
“Maya, can we please forget today’s misunderstanding?”
I looked at the bouquet.
“Misunderstanding?”
He set the flowers on the counter.
“Celeste gets jealous. She doesn’t always think before she speaks.”
I stared at him.
“Why does she believe you’re her husband?”
Julian sighed.
“Because I told her our marriage was basically over.”
The words hung between us.
I looked at the man I had trusted for seven years.
“And you didn’t think I deserved to know that?”
He stepped closer.
“Come on, Maya. Don’t turn this into something it doesn’t need to be.”
I shook my head.
“You lied to her. You lied to me. And today she physically struck me because she believed she had a claim to you.”
He reached for my hand.
“We can move past this. You always forgive me eventually.”
I slowly pulled my hand away.
That was when I understood how confidently he expected me to accept whatever he decided.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message lit up the screen.
The sender was Celeste.
Tomorrow, we get rid of her for good.
I looked at Julian.
He was smiling at the message.
He had no idea that tomorrow’s meeting would be very different from what he had planned.
