It occurred to her that her undercover decision had become easier for her to defend the longer it lasted. She was seeing things that had been hidden from the board, yes. But she had also allowed the younger employees to carry risks she could have ended sooner by walking upstairs and announcing who she was. She had wanted to know how far Jamal would go before stopping himself. That had not been a fair burden to place on Maya.
She called Evelyn. "I want you to put something in tomorrow's record," she said.
"What is it?"
"My own conduct. I remained undercover after I witnessed employees being mistreated. Some of the harm happened while I was still collecting information. We did intervene through payroll and employment safeguards, but I should have escalated sooner."
Evelyn's reply was immediate. "We can include that. It's important."
"Don't write it as though I had no choice. I did."
"Understood."
Ellen ended the call and sat for a long time. She looked at Jamal's childhood photograph on her sideboard, then at the faded company apron hanging on a hook behind her kitchen door. Her husband used to say she could run three businesses before breakfast but struggled to admit when she needed help. She had always argued that she asked for help whenever the work required it. Tonight she suspected he had been right about more than she wanted to acknowledge.
Friday morning arrived bright and cold. At six, Ellen reported to the service entrance wearing the blue uniform, though Otis told her she could change before the board meeting. She shook her head. "I'll change when the work is done."
"People are already asking about the chairwoman," he told her. "The executive office sent somebody to meet her at the front entrance."
"Then they may have a long morning."
He gave her a card with access to the forty-first floor, where the boardroom occupied the eastern wing of headquarters. She attached it beside the ordinary cleaning badge. The two pieces of plastic hung against her uniform, one announcing a temporary facilities assignment, the other granting access to the highest governing room in the building.
Otis looked at both. "Which one should I tell security to recognize?"
"Both. They should both be valid."
At seven, Maya arrived at headquarters carrying the board hearing invitation issued by Evelyn's office. Her usual badge remained restricted. The security guard checked the document, consulted an administrator, and allowed her to sign in as a witness with a temporary pass. He apologized for the confusion.
"It's fine," Maya said automatically, then stopped herself. "Actually, it's not fine. But thank you for checking instead of assuming."
The guard met her eyes. "You're right. I'll report the access problem."