Employees shared it privately. Commentators discussed what it revealed about authority and racial bias. Investors questioned whether the company's leadership had put its ego ahead of a financing needed to stabilize operations.
By the evening, enough directors supported an emergency meeting to review Preston's conduct. Rachel called Malik with the news.
"They're ready to consider a leadership vote," she said. "And the original investment terms are being reconsidered without Preston's revisions."
Malik sat at the kitchen table with Odell. He rubbed a fading mark on his wrist.
"Does the board know the bank hold is still unresolved?"
"Yes. Susan says the bank's review is being handled separately."
"Then make sure nobody pretends the transaction can close until the bank clears it. I won't give Preston another reason to call us reckless."
Rachel paused. "I appreciate that."
"I'm not doing it for Preston. I'm doing it because the deal needs to be sound."
She was quiet for a moment. "Malik, I should have challenged him long before you walked into that building."
He looked down. "You're challenging him now. Keep doing it."
For a few hours, it seemed possible that the worst was ending. A leadership vote was scheduled. The independent review was progressing. Witnesses were talking. The legitimate financing questions could be answered with documents. And the public no longer had to rely on Yarrow Industries' carefully sanitized description of what happened.
Then Preston made his final move.
On the morning of the emergency board session, before the directors could consider his removal, he placed a thick folder at every seat. Its cover read CONFIDENTIAL REGULATORY EXPOSURE - ASHWORTH CAPITAL. Inside were the same bank messages, rearranged with alarming headings and selective excerpts. An unverified allegation was described as an unresolved fraud concern. A routine request for additional information was presented as evidence of serious irregularities.
Preston stood at the end of the table, speaking in a calm, grave voice.
"I know the lobby footage is upsetting. I've apologized for the confusion. But we cannot ignore a potentially fraudulent capital source simply because the public wants an immediate villain. Removing the CEO during an active financial integrity review would jeopardize this entire company."
Susan held up one of the pages. "Where does the bank say there is a fraud investigation?"
"The wording is deliberately cautious," Preston replied. "Compliance matters often are."
"That doesn't answer the question."
"Do you want to gamble two thousand jobs on a nineteen-year-old whose fund can't release its money?"
Several directors exchanged uneasy looks. Wallace Dunn asked whether Yarrow Industries might be exposed to penalties if it signed before the review ended. Richard worried publicly about the lenders. Even directors who distrusted Preston hesitated when he described the prospect of capital that might never arrive.
Rachel argued that the bank's hold and Preston's conduct were separate questions. Susan asked independent counsel to review the actual bank correspondence. But the board was split, and the necessary votes were not there. The motion on Preston's removal was postponed until the financial review could be clarified.
Preston remained seated at the head of the table when everyone else stood to leave.