Thomas continued.
“We don't know whether the recording survived or was sent to anyone.”
I stared at the image.
“Find out.”
He nodded.
Then Natalie asked the question we'd all been avoiding.
“What do we do about Adrian?”
Thomas answered before I could.
“We preserve the evidence, notify appropriate independent authorities within the company, and seek legal advice about potential criminal conduct.”
I agreed.
“And we don't confront him privately.”
Natalie looked surprised.
“Why not?”
“Because I want this handled properly. No threats. No secret bargains. No opportunity for anyone to claim we manipulated the process.”
Thomas gave a small approving nod.
“That's the right approach.”
I stood.
“Adrian tried to turn an ordinary passenger dispute into a weapon.”
I looked at the photograph of myself on the conference table.
“Now we're going to find out how many other people he's used.”
The special board meeting took place on a Thursday morning.
Adrian Cole arrived early.
He wore a perfectly tailored charcoal suit and carried a leather briefcase.
When he saw me, he smiled.
“Daniel. Always a pleasure.”
“Adrian.”
He shook my hand.
“Hope the travel experience initiative is going well.”
“Very well.”
“Excellent. Customer satisfaction is everything.”
I studied his face.
He appeared completely relaxed.
If he knew about the investigation, he wasn't showing it.
Caroline Bennett entered a few minutes later, accompanied by outside legal counsel and two independent board representatives.
The meeting began.
Caroline announced that the agenda had changed.
“We need to address serious concerns involving the Meridian Project.”
Adrian's smile faded slightly.
“What kind of concerns?”
“Financial irregularities, undisclosed third-party relationships, and possible misconduct.”
He leaned back.
“Those are significant allegations.”
“They are,” Caroline replied.
Natalie presented the financial records.
The consulting payments.
The vendor contracts.
The unexplained bonuses.
Adrian responded confidently at first.
“Meridian is a legitimate advisory partner.”
“Who controls it?” Natalie asked.
“A private investment group.”
“Which group?”
“I'd have to check.”
Natalie displayed a corporate ownership chart.
“Our investigators have traced the controlling interest to a holding company managed by your brother-in-law.”
Adrian's face changed.
Only slightly.
But I noticed.
“That doesn't mean anything improper occurred.”
“No,” Natalie agreed. “Not by itself.”
She displayed Victoria's payment records.
“Can you explain why Meridian paid Harrington Premier Events shortly before Flight 418?”
Adrian glanced at the screen.
“Marketing services, presumably.”
“What marketing services?”
“I don't personally review every vendor invoice.”
Caroline spoke.
“Your signature appears on the approval.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“I sign hundreds of documents.”
I remained silent.
Then Thomas, who had joined as an external investigator, summarized the airport footage and witness testimony.
Adrian interrupted.
“This is ridiculous. You're trying to connect an unrelated passenger dispute to a corporate transaction.”
Thomas looked at him.
“Then perhaps you can explain why you met Ms. Harrington at the departure gate.”
Adrian stared.
“I meet clients at airports all the time.”
“Were you traveling that day?”
“No.”
“Why did you visit the airport?”
“Business.”
“What business?”
“Confidential discussions.”
Thomas nodded.
“Did those discussions involve Daniel Brooks?”
Adrian looked directly at me.
For the first time, I saw something resembling fear.
“This is becoming a personal attack.”
I spoke quietly.
“No, Adrian. It's a question.”
He turned toward Caroline.
“I won't participate in this circus.”
Caroline remained calm.
“You are free to request legal representation. But the board has a responsibility to investigate.”
Adrian stood.
“I've done more for this company than anyone in this room.”
Nobody answered.
He looked at me.
“You think you're untouchable because you have money?”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“Then what's this really about?”
I met his eyes.
“A man bought a seat on an airplane. Someone arranged for him to be harassed. A passenger was injured. And now we're discovering suspicious payments connected to the incident.”
Adrian opened his mouth.
I continued.
“If you had nothing to do with it, the evidence will matter more than my opinion.”
He stared at me for several seconds.
Then he picked up his briefcase.
“I'll be speaking with my attorney.”
Caroline nodded.
“That would be appropriate.”
He left.
The door closed behind him.
Nobody moved for a moment.
Then Caroline looked at the board representatives.
“I recommend that Adrian be placed on administrative leave immediately, with his access to sensitive systems restricted while the investigation continues.”
The motion passed.
Unanimously.
But the matter was far from over.