The suspension of Richard Halston's proposed acquisition had not yet appeared in the newspapers. No official announcement had been made, and the board had instructed senior management to avoid discussing the matter outside authorized meetings.
But news traveled through a company in ways that formal announcements could never control.
A receptionist noticed that two lawyers had arrived before the office opened. A regional manager received a message asking her to preserve old staffing records. An accountant was told not to approve several invoices until further notice. A restaurant supervisor heard that an executive meeting had ended with Richard Halston leaving before lunch.
By nine, employees across the group knew something was happening.
They simply did not know what.
At the Grand Aurelia, Daniel Mercer was polishing the silverware when Peter Langford entered the dining room.
Daniel looked up.
"Morning, Mr. Langford."
"Good morning."
"Is everything all right?"
Peter stopped.
It was a simple question, but he could hear the worry behind it.
"Why wouldn't it be?"
Daniel hesitated.
"People are saying there might be changes."
Peter looked toward the kitchen.
"Who told you that?"
"Nobody directly. I heard it from one of the servers. She heard it from someone in administration."
Peter pulled out a chair and sat.
"Daniel, I can't promise that nothing will change. The company is reviewing its operations."
Daniel lowered the polishing cloth.
"Does that mean people are losing their jobs?"
"I don't know yet."
"Am I on the list?"
Peter looked at him.
"Has anyone spoken to you about your position?"
"No."
"Then don't assume the worst."
Daniel nodded, but the worry remained.
Peter leaned forward.
"Listen carefully. Nobody should ask you to sign anything about your employment without giving you time to read it. If someone gives you a document you don't understand, ask for a copy. If they pressure you, come to me."
Daniel frowned.
"Why would anyone pressure us?"
Peter considered his answer.
"Because sometimes people become impatient when they want something done quickly."
"Is that what's happening?"
Peter did not answer.
Daniel returned to polishing the silverware.
The general manager stood.
"One more thing."
"Yes?"
"Do you remember Mrs. Grant?"
Daniel smiled.
"The lady at Table Twelve?"
"Yes."
"She was very kind."
"She may be visiting again. If she does, treat her exactly as you treated her last time."
Daniel looked confused.
"Of course."
Peter nodded.
"And if anyone asks you questions about her, tell me."
"All right."
Peter walked toward the office.
He had been at the Grand Aurelia for twenty-one years. He knew that employees did not need to understand every board decision. They needed to know whether the people making those decisions remembered that their livelihoods were attached to them.
For the first time in years, he was unsure.
At 9:30, Eleanor Grant sat in a conference room at the group's administrative headquarters.
The room overlooked a small courtyard where a gardener was trimming the hedges. A long table occupied the center, surrounded by twelve chairs. Water glasses stood in front of each seat, and a projector displayed a blank screen.
Eleanor had arrived with Sofia Bennett.
She wore a dark-blue jacket over a simple white blouse. Her handbag sat beside her chair. A thin folder lay in front of her.
Across the table sat Leonard Price, Martin Cole, and three members of the board's audit committee.
The independent auditor, Helen Ward, had joined by video.
Helen was fifty-six, a former forensic accountant with a reputation for being thorough and difficult to intimidate. She had spent twenty years investigating corporate fraud, financial misreporting, and complex ownership structures.
She did not smile when she spoke.
"Mrs. Grant, before we begin, I want to establish the scope of the review."
"Please do."
"We have received the original service agreements, the preliminary restructuring schedule, and a limited set of supplier invoices. We have not yet received the full correspondence relating to the new operating company."
"Why not?"
"Corporate administration says the correspondence is being collected."
"Who is responsible for collecting it?"
Martin answered.
"Christopher Vane."
Helen looked at him.
"Has Mr. Vane confirmed that he has preserved all relevant records?"
Martin hesitated.
"He was asked to."
"That wasn't my question."
"No. He hasn't confirmed it."
Helen made a note.
"Then I recommend that the preservation request be issued directly by the audit committee and that access to the relevant records be restricted until the review is complete."
Leonard nodded.
"Agreed."
Eleanor looked toward the screen.
"Ms. Ward, what have you found so far?"
Helen adjusted her glasses.
"There are three areas of concern."
She changed the slide.
The first showed a list of service agreements.
"Several contracts previously held directly by the hospitality group were transferred to a company called Northbridge Services Limited. The stated purpose was to consolidate purchasing, maintenance, and administrative support."
"Who owns Northbridge?" Eleanor asked.