Chapter 9 - THE BOARDROOM EXECUTIONThe emergency board meeting began at noon.
Miles arrived wearing a navy suit and the expression of a man who believed he could still control the outcome. His attorneys accompanied him, carrying binders of carefully prepared statements.
Julian attended in person.
Iris sat beside independent counsel, her face composed.
The board chair, Margaret Ellis, called the meeting to order.
"We are here to address three issues: the disputed charitable transfers, the authenticity of certain financial authorizations, and the allegations concerning Mr. Vance's debt acquisition."
Miles rose first.
"Corrigan Health Systems has been the victim of a coordinated attack."
Margaret looked at him.
"Please identify the evidence supporting that statement."
Miles opened his binder.
He spoke for twelve minutes about hostile investors, market manipulation, and the dangers of allowing private creditors to interfere with a growing company.
He did not mention the missing money.
When he finished, Julian stood.
"My firm acquired valid debt obligations through documented transactions. We have made no demand beyond our contractual rights. We also submitted evidence of discrepancies that require independent examination."
Miles smiled thinly.
"Conveniently discovered after you arrived at a charity gala and embarrassed me in front of investors."
"You embarrassed yourself."
"Objection," one attorney said.
Margaret struck the table lightly.
"Let's remain focused."
Iris opened a folder.
"The clinic records show that several charitable grants were recorded as completed even though the intended recipients received only partial payments or nothing at all."
Miles turned toward her.
"You're a volunteer. You have no authority to interpret our accounting records."
"Correct. That's why I asked an independent forensic team to examine them."
She distributed a summary.
"The team traced multiple transfers through administrative subsidiaries. The documents identify payments to vendors that provided no verifiable medical services. Several authorizations contain duplicated signatures."
Donovan shifted in his seat.
Margaret noticed.
"Mr. Donovan, did you approve these transactions?"
"Some of them."
"Did you verify the recipients?"
"I relied on the approvals provided by senior management."
Miles interrupted.
"He was responsible for the financial controls."
Donovan looked at him.
"You told me the funds were temporary loans."
The room went silent.
Miles's face hardened.
"Be careful."
Donovan swallowed.
"I told you the clinics would miss payroll if the transfers weren't reversed. You said the company would replace the money before the quarterly reports were finalized."
"That's a lie."
"Then explain the emails."
Donovan handed his attorney a printed exchange.
The messages showed Miles discussing the transfers and instructing finance staff to classify them as temporary administrative advances.
Margaret removed her glasses.
"Mr. Corrigan, did you authorize these transfers?"
Miles looked around the table.
For the first time, he had no prepared answer.
"I authorized certain transactions in the ordinary course of business."
"Did you know the clinics had not received their full funding?"
"I was informed that the timing was being resolved."
"By whom?"
He glanced at Donovan.
Donovan looked away.
Miles's own words had trapped him.
Margaret closed the meeting.
"Effective immediately, Mr. Corrigan will be placed on administrative leave pending the independent investigation. The audit committee will notify the appropriate authorities if the evidence warrants it."
Miles rose abruptly.
"You cannot do this to me."
"We can," Margaret said. "The board has a fiduciary duty to protect the company."
As security escorted him from the room, Miles turned toward Iris.
"You think you've won?"
She met his gaze.
"No. I think the truth has finally been allowed into the room."
He leaned closer as he passed.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with."
Iris remained still.
But after the doors closed, she noticed something on the last page of the transaction summary.
A transfer had been made after the board initiated its investigation.
The amount was small compared with the missing millions.
May you like
The destination was not.
The payment had gone to an account connected to the private investigator Miles had hired to find Evelyn Price.
Related Stories
