The executive boardroom was sleek and intimidating, designed to have weak people submit to the will of people in power. Twelve board members sat around a long, polished table. At the head was the Chairman, his expression stony. Oliver stood with Emily at his side. Tension crackled in the air.
“We are here today to understand how a $500 million transaction bypassed our safeguards and resulted in the most humiliating fraud this company has ever suffered,” said the chairman, directing a glance to Oliver and Emily and then at Rickard, the CEO.
Another board member leaned forward and spoke up. “Let’s not sugarcoat it. We bought air. A ghost company, fake land titles. And all of it, every piece of it, traces back to one person.”
All eyes shifted to Emily.
She forgot to breathe but as Oliver’
