"Mrs. Grant, I think he believes you are trying to embarrass him."
Eleanor looked at him.
"Am I?"
Peter hesitated.
"No."
"Then he should be able to distinguish between embarrassment and accountability."
Peter nodded.
She removed her gloves.
"How is Daniel?"
"Working."
"Margaret's old team?"
"Some are worried. A few have asked whether their positions are safe."
Eleanor looked around the dining room.
"Have any managers received new instructions?"
"Only the temporary preservation notice."
"Good."
She walked toward the kitchen.
Peter followed.
Inside, André Moreau was checking a delivery of fresh vegetables.
He looked up when Eleanor entered.
"Madame Grant."
"André."
He wiped his hands on a towel.
"How was the meeting?"
"Long."
"Did they listen?"
"Some did."
André glanced toward Peter.
"That is not the same as saying they will act."
"No," Eleanor replied. "It isn't."
The chef nodded.
"Would you like to see the kitchen?"
"Please."
He showed her the new refrigeration unit, the prep stations, and the storage area.
Everything appeared clean and orderly.
But Eleanor noticed that several handwritten maintenance notes were taped beside a door.
"What are those?"
André sighed.
"Repairs."
"Have they been reported?"
"Many times."
"Why are they still here?"
"Because the new system says the requests are closed."
Eleanor looked at Peter.
He frowned.
"Which repairs?"
André pointed.
"The ventilation above the pastry station. A leak in the rear storage room. The temperature sensor on the second refrigerator."
Eleanor examined the notes.
"How long have they been waiting?"
"Some for three weeks."
"That's unacceptable."
André shrugged.
"We manage."
"That is not the same as the problem being solved."
She turned to Peter.
"Please arrange for the maintenance team to inspect these today. Use the original supplier if necessary. Keep the invoices separate."
Peter nodded.
"Of course."
André looked at her.
"Thank you."
Eleanor touched his arm.
"You shouldn't have to thank me for keeping the kitchen safe."
At 12:45, Richard arrived.
He did not announce himself.
He walked through the entrance with Christopher Vane and a lawyer named James Whitcomb.
Peter approached immediately.
"Mr. Halston."
"Where is Mrs. Grant?"
"She is in the private dining room."
"Take me to her."
Peter glanced at Christopher.
"Does Mrs. Grant know you're coming?"
Richard's expression hardened.
"She agreed to meet me."
"Then I'll inform her."
Richard checked his watch.
"I don't have time for this."
Peter remained calm.
"I'll be one moment."
He walked away.
Christopher leaned toward Richard.
"Maybe we should wait."
Richard looked at him.
"Don't start."
The manager returned.
"Mrs. Grant will see you."
Richard followed him.
Eleanor was sitting beside a window in the private dining room.
She had a cup of tea in front of her and a folder open on the table.
When Richard entered, she stood.
"Mr. Halston."
"Mrs. Grant."
They shook hands.
James Whitcomb introduced himself and placed a briefcase beside his chair.
Christopher stood near the door.
Eleanor indicated the seats.
"Please."
Richard sat.
He did not waste time.
"I want to make one thing clear. I have no intention of allowing an internal disagreement to derail a transaction that has been carefully negotiated."
Eleanor folded her hands.
"Then we agree that the disagreement should be resolved through evidence."
Richard looked at her.
"You're treating preliminary accounting questions as proof of misconduct."
"No. I'm treating them as questions that require answers."
"The audit committee has been given incomplete information by former employees."
"Then the complete information should settle the matter."
Richard leaned forward.
"You have no experience managing an investment transaction of this size."
Eleanor looked at him calmly.
"I didn't claim to."
"You have no understanding of the financial pressures facing the group."
"I understand the group has debt. I understand revenue has been uneven. I understand some properties need investment."
"Then you understand that we need capital."
"Yes."
"And I can provide it."
"Possibly."
Richard's jaw tightened.
"Why are you making this difficult?"
Eleanor looked at him for several seconds.
"Because you are asking me to approve a transaction that could change the lives of hundreds of employees, while refusing to answer basic questions about the companies receiving their work."
Richard gave a sharp laugh.
"Those employees are not the owners."
"No. But they are not disposable either."
"Businesses cannot operate on emotion."
"Neither can they operate on dishonesty."
James Whitcomb shifted in his chair.
"Mrs. Grant, perhaps we should clarify that no evidence of fraud has been established."
"Agreed."
"Then I would ask that we avoid language that implies wrongdoing."
"I have not accused anyone of fraud."
Richard pointed toward the folder.
"You have circulated concerns about Northbridge."
"The audit committee has received documents."
"From former employees."
"From employees who were directly involved in the relevant work."
"Employees who were dismissed."
Eleanor nodded.
"That is why their claims should be verified."
Richard leaned back.
"You're making this personal."
Eleanor looked at him.
"Was it not personal when Margaret Ellis was told that she was too close to retirement to challenge her final compensation?"