Chapter 23: The Scapegoat
The boardroom was already full when Amelia arrived.
Executives lined both sides of the massive conference table.
Lawyers.
Investors.
Board members.
People who had smiled at her for years.
People who now avoided her eyes.
The atmosphere felt poisonous.
Every television screen in the room displayed the same headlines.
HART INDUSTRIES FRAUD SCANDAL
AMELIA HART UNDER SCRUTINY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LINKED TO MISSING FUNDS
Someone had moved fast.
Very fast.
The leak had happened less than an hour ago.
Yet the media already had a complete narrative.
And Amelia was the villain.
Richard Hart sat near the head of the table.
Calm.
Collected.
Almost comfortable.
That alone made Amelia suspicious.
Charles sat beside him.
Exhausted.
Older than she remember
