Gregory looked at me instead. ‘Madeline, tell your lawyer to stop turning a private situation into theater.’
I loosened my hand from my coat pocket and let the ring sit against my palm one last second before I closed my fingers again.
‘It stopped being private when you used company money to furnish your mistress’s apartment,’ I said.
For the first time that morning, Ashley let go of his arm.
Edwin did not raise his voice. He did not need to.
‘Effective 10:24 a.m., your authority to act on behalf of Beaumont Civic Development was suspended by recorded board vote. Effective immediately, your noon presentation is canceled, your access credentials are deactivated, and an internal conflict review has begun. You are instructed to preserve all devices, correspondence, and expense records related to Monroe Urban Concepts, Unit 1804 on Pine Street, and the waterfront parcel designated BCD-17.’
A court officer near the metal detector lifted his head.
Gregory finally took the papers.
‘You’re out of your mind,’ he said to Dana. Then to Edwin: ‘This is retaliation. My personal life has nothing to do with development governance.’
Edwin slid a second page free and tapped the center with one finger.
‘Related-party transaction. Undisclosed beneficiary conflict. Misappropriation of project funds. That makes your personal life extremely relevant.’
Ashley laughed once, too high, too fast.
‘Consulting fees aren’t misappropriation.’
Dana opened her folder and handed Edwin three clipped copies without looking at either of them.
‘Your consulting fees paid for a furnished lease, a mattress delivery, and a bridal photographer holding noon to four today,’ she said. ‘The florist used the same billing address.’
Color moved through Gregory’s face in reverse. First the confidence. Then the warmth. Then everything else.
He looked at me again, and this time there was no practiced smile on him at all.
‘You set me up.’
‘No,’ I said. ‘I read what you counted on me not reading.’
Edwin turned one more page and his tone shifted, not warmer, not colder, just official.
