“Mom told me what to say.”
Vivienne stared at her.
“Tiffany.”
“You did.
You said Clara would make trouble if we warned her early.”
“I told you to handle the reservation discreetly.
I did not tell you to write that.”
The two of them began unraveling in front of everyone, each trying to push the ugliest part of the decision into the other’s hands.
Arthur slammed his palm against the concierge counter.
“Enough.
Clara, unlock the card.”
“No.”
“That account pays for this entire event.”
“That is why it is locked.”
His jaw tightened.
“You have no idea how business works.
A temporary authorization problem could damage relationships that took me years to build.”
Margaret placed another document beside the board resolution.
“The relationships under review include vendors connected to your personal associates, three unapproved consulting agreements, and repeated use of company funds for nonbusiness travel.
The board has appointed outside counsel and a forensic accounting firm.”
Arthur stared down at the paper.
The arrogance left his face so quickly that I understood something important: he had expected family anger, not formal consequences.
He knew how to survive tears, accusations, and private arguments.
He did not know how to survive records he could not intimidate.
“This is a misunderstanding,” he said.
Margaret’s tone remained level.
“Then the audit will clarify it.”
