Chapter 5 - The Woman Who Walked AwayPaige had been involved with Adrian longer than I realized.
I discovered that through expense reports, travel records, and emails preserved during the corporate investigation.
Their relationship had begun almost four years earlier.
Not two.
Not one.
Four years.
That meant Paige had been involved with my husband while Rebecca was still alive.
It meant she had attended my sister's funeral.
I remembered her standing near the back of the church, wearing a black coat and holding a small bouquet.
She had hugged me afterward.
She had said, “I'm so sorry, Elizabeth. Adrian told me how close you were.”
I had thanked her.
Now I wondered what else she knew.
Catherine advised me not to contact Paige directly.
“She's potentially a witness in the financial investigation,” she explained. “We need to avoid creating accusations of harassment or witness pressure.”
“I just want answers.”
“I understand. Let the attorneys and investigators handle the evidence.”
I hated that answer.
But I followed it.
Meanwhile, the company's independent audit committee retained outside counsel and a forensic accounting firm.
Thomas Vail was placed on administrative leave pending review.
Adrian publicly described the situation as a routine corporate governance inquiry.
Privately, he called board members.
I knew because two of them contacted Margaret.
One reported that Adrian had threatened to sue the board if anyone questioned his leadership.
Another said he had demanded immediate access to archived financial records.
The board denied that request pending preservation and review procedures.
For the first time, Adrian was losing access to the systems he had controlled for years.
And he did not handle it well.
On Friday afternoon, I met with Nathaniel Price, the independent chair of the audit committee.
Nathaniel was sixty, a former transportation executive who had served on the board since my grandfather's final years.
He had always treated me respectfully.
But I had rarely participated in meetings.
Adrian preferred it that way.
Nathaniel sat across from me in a conference room overlooking downtown Fairfax.
“Elizabeth, I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“For allowing the impression that you had no meaningful role in this company.”
I studied him.
“You knew I held the controlling shares.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did nobody correct Adrian when he claimed the company belonged to him?”
Nathaniel sighed.
“Because he was the public face of the business, and you never challenged that arrangement.”
“I never agreed to false ownership claims.”
“I understand.”
I leaned forward.
“My grandfather built a company that gave working families steady paychecks. I entrusted Adrian with running it because I believed he would protect that legacy.”
Nathaniel nodded.
“Then we need to determine whether he breached that trust.”
He opened a file.
“The financial review has identified several transactions that require explanations.”
“Eleven million dollars?”
“Potentially more. We haven't completed the tracing.”
My stomach tightened.
“Could the company survive?”
“Yes. The underlying operations remain strong. But we need to protect employees, contracts, and customers while the investigation continues.”
I looked through the window.
A delivery truck turned onto the street below.
I thought of the drivers.
The warehouse workers.
The mechanics.
The dispatchers.
People who depended on their paychecks to feed their children.
“I don't want them hurt because of Adrian.”
“Neither does the board.”
Nathaniel leaned forward.
“And we need something from you.”
“What?”
“An active role in the governance process. You hold voting power, Elizabeth. That carries responsibility.”
For twelve years, I had avoided that responsibility because I believed silence kept my marriage peaceful.
Now I understood the price.
“I'll participate,” I said.
Nathaniel nodded.
“Then we can begin repairing this.”
At six o'clock that evening, I received a call from an unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
“Hello?”
A woman spoke.
“Elizabeth?”
I recognized her immediately.
Paige.
My body went rigid.
“What do you want?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“Through your attorney.”
“Please. I know that's what I should do. But Adrian found out I spoke to the auditors.”
I said nothing.
Paige's breathing sounded uneven.
“He thinks I gave them the account information.”
“Did you?”
A long pause.
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes.
“Why?”
“Because I discovered he lied to me too.”
“About what?”
“The money. The company. Everything.”
I almost ended the call.
Then Paige said something unexpected.
“Elizabeth, Rebecca came to me the night before she died.”
My throat tightened.
“Why?”
“She asked me to help her.”
“With what?”
“An account Adrian was using.”
I gripped the phone.
“Did you help her?”
Paige began crying quietly.
“I tried.”
“Then what happened?”
“We went to the warehouse. Rebecca confronted him. She had documents proving Thomas was moving money.”
I stared at the wall.
“Did Adrian threaten her?”
Paige hesitated.
“He told her she'd regret interfering.”
A cold sensation moved through my chest.
“Paige, what happened after you left?”
“We argued in the parking lot. Rebecca wanted to go to the police. I told her to wait until morning.”
“Why?”
“Because Adrian threatened to destroy my career if I helped her.”
I closed my eyes.
Then Paige whispered:
“Elizabeth, there's something you need to know about the accident.”
I couldn't breathe.
“What?”
May you like
Paige's voice cracked.
“The truck driver wasn't a stranger to Adrian. He had been doing private transportation work for the company.”
Related Stories
