Chapter 5 - The Staff WomanThe recording continued.
Victoria’s voice was unmistakable.
People like you should understand what this job gave you.
Emma answered:
A paycheck does not buy my silence.
Victoria laughed.
Your daughter attends a public school. You rent. You have no attorney. Who exactly do you think will believe you?
The ballroom became painfully quiet.
Several guests had repeated similar words about Emma after her dismissal.
She was bitter.
Jealous.
Desperate.
Unqualified to understand complex finances.
Every accusation had sounded reasonable because it protected the wealthier person.
Lily looked around the room.
“You believed her.”
No one answered.
A board member finally said:
“We were shown evidence.”
Victoria seized the excuse.
“Exactly.”
Lily opened another file.
The evidence against Emma had been created from Victoria’s office.
Altered invoices.
A forged authorization.
A transfer placed in Emma’s name twelve minutes after her access credentials were disabled.
The board member sat down.
Victoria whispered:
“This proves nothing about intent.”
Lily looked at her.
“You told my mother nobody would believe her.”
A pause.
“You were right.”
The child’s simple answer humiliated every adult more than shouting could have.
Then the brass key fell from the clutch onto the marble.
The ballroom manager stared at it.
May you like
“That opens the foundation archive.”
Victoria went white.
