Chapter 13
He was silent.
Natalie smiled gently.
“Claire needs to know she can walk through that door whenever she wants.”
Dominic looked down at the velvet box.
For once, the answer seemed painfully obvious.
But changing how he treated Claire wasn’t the only reckoning Dominic faced.
An independent review of the Harris contract revealed that Bradley Pike had bypassed internal approval procedures and concealed the associated financial risk.
The review also uncovered payments to an outside company connected to one of Dominic’s longtime business associates.
The discovery forced an uncomfortable truth into the open.
The old family network Dominic had inherited was still influencing parts of his legitimate business.
It wasn’t enough to correct one employee’s termination while ignoring a system that allowed powerful people to escape responsibility.
Dominic suspended Bradley pending further investigation and referred the financial findings to independent legal counsel and the company’s audit committee. The board authorized external investigators to examine the records and cooperate with the appropriate authorities.
Daniel watched him sign the instructions.
“Some of the people involved won’t appreciate this.”
Dominic didn’t look up.
“Neither did Robert Harris appreciate losing his job.”
“Those aren’t the same people.”
“No.”
Dominic set down his pen.
“But it’s the same principle.”
The decision carried risks that money couldn’t simply erase.
Dominic understood that cleaning up the company wouldn’t erase his own past or absolve him of responsibility for the world he’d helped maintain.
Still, for the first time, he was willing to let the truth reach places his power had previously kept closed.
He wasn’t becoming a different man overnight.
But he was beginning to understand the cost of remaining the same.
Two weeks later, Claire received an invitation to meet with Thomas Bennett.
She arrived carrying three folders, a notebook, and enough nervous energy to power the entire building.
Thomas greeted her warmly.
“Claire, I wanted to discuss the senior benefits and compliance director position.”
She sat carefully.
“Of course.”
“We’ve reviewed your work history, performance evaluations, project contributions, and recent compliance findings.”
He opened a file.
“The committee is impressed.”
Claire felt her heart accelerate.
“We’d like to move you to the final stage of the selection process.”
She exhaled.
“Thank you. That means a great deal.”
Thomas smiled.
“One other thing. I want you to know Mr. Vale removed himself from the process as soon as your name came forward.”
Claire looked up.
“He did?”