Chapter 6 - Ethan Finally Tells the Truth
Internal counsel interviewed Ethan for four hours.
At first, he defended everything.
The watch was a gift.
The transfers were consulting income.
The vendor relationship was disclosed verbally.
The expensive dinners were business development.
Then the attorney asked:
“Did you know Meridian had no employees when you first recommended them?”
Ethan stopped.
Jason had subcontracted nearly all work.
“Yes.”
“Did you know the subcontractors were being paid less than twenty percent of what Stratton paid Meridian?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you approve the pricing?”
Ethan looked down.
“Jason told me the difference covered proprietary strategy.”
“Did you verify that?”
“No.”
“Why?”
He did not answer.
Then:
“Because I was getting paid.”
The room changed.
There it was.
Not full criminal intent.
Not innocence either.
Ethan continued.
He did not understand the broader Northbridge arrangement at first.
But he knew Meridian’s fees were inflated.
He knew his own income depended on those fees.
He deliberately avoided examining the structure.
“How much money did you personally receive?”
“Approximately $1.8 million.”
“Did you report the conflict?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Ethan swallowed.
“Because I knew the contract would probably be terminated.”
The interview ended.
The board suspended him immediately.
Not because Emily demanded it.
She did not attend the vote.
Seven independent directors voted unanimously.
When Ethan received the decision, he asked:
“Did Emily vote?”
“No.”
That somehow hurt more.
He had spent days believing she was destroying him.
May you like
She had removed herself.
His own conduct had been enough.
