Chapter 12 - THE COMPANY BOARD
Derek’s employment case was separate.
Whitmore Logistics investigated vendor relationships.
Three contracts showed suspicious timing.
Two vendors admitted paying Cole Strategic because Derek implied it would improve access.
One denied any quid pro quo.
Board counsel was careful.
Not every consulting payment was bribery.
But Derek violated:
conflict policy,
disclosure rules,
outside-business restrictions.
Termination upheld.
Then Robert? No, Richard.
Richard recused from final vote because family conflict.
Good governance.
Derek blamed Evelyn.
She had no board vote.
That annoyed him more.
He had lost job because of records, not because Evelyn whispered.
Then Caroline’s lender sued on CMB loan.
She claimed lender failed due diligence on collateral.
Lender had.
Partly.
The lender knew interests were contingent.
But relied on forged family support letter.
Litigation became messy.
Settlement:
Caroline liquidated investments,
sold luxury vehicle,
entered structured repayment.
No bankruptcy yet.
May you like
No instant ruin.
But lifestyle collapsed.
