Chapter 8 - The Clean Slate
Arthur Pierce collapsed into his executive chair, rubbing his trembling hands over his face as sweat soaked through his shirt collar.
"Mrs. Bennett..." Arthur croaked, looking up at me like a drowning man begging for a line.
"I don't know what to say. The firm had no knowledge of her fee skimming. We will fully cooperate with the SEC investigation, I swear to you."
I closed my leather folio and stood up from the table, smoothing down my blazer.
"I believe you, Mr. Pierce," I said gently, looking around at the remaining partners who sat in frozen silence.
"Which is why Lumière Holdings will not terminate your commercial lease."
Arthur's eyes widened in profound, disbelieving relief. "You... you won't evict us?"
"You have forty junior brokers and administrative staff in this building who have families to feed," I replied.
"They didn't pour wine on me. They didn't steal from retirees. I don't punish innocent workers for the sins of an arrogant bully."
Arthur stood up, bowing his head with deep, humble gratitude.
"Thank you, Mrs. Bennett. Truly. How can we ever make this right?"
"You can make this right by establishing a mandatory ethics oversight committee," I answered, stepping toward the exit.
"And every dollar Lauren skimmed from those elderly clients must be refunded with statutory interest by five o'clock today."
"It will be done within the hour," Arthur promised without hesitation.
I nodded to Marcus, and we walked out of the corporate suite into the bright morning sunlight flooding the lobby.
Outside the building, leaning against his black sedan with two fresh coffees in his hands, stood Ethan.
He looked up and smiled as he saw me walking down the granite steps, his eyes bright with admiration and love.
"How did it go, boss?" Ethan asked, handing me a steaming cup of vanilla latte.
"The bully was expelled," I laughed softly, sipping the sweet brew. "And the school is finally under new management."
May you like
Ethan looped his arm around my waist, pulling me close and kissing my temple.
"Let's go home, Maya. You have a new restaurant menu to approve."
