"Okay." Reese didn''t want Matthew to worry anymore, so she managed a small smile. "You''re right. Let''s go home."
***
The next evening, Bridger Lake was buzzing after the news reported the final verdict in Leslie''s case.
Leslie had been found guilty of illegally obtaining ssified state secrets. Even though no information had actually leaked, the court decided she was a severe threat to national security and sentenced her to five years in prison. Jane, who had helped her, got two years. Since she cooperated with the investigation, her sentence was suspended for one year, but she wasn''t allowed to leave the country during that time.
As the verdict was read, Jane''s whole body shook. Tears streamed down her face, but she didn''t make a sound. She just bit her lip and tried to hold herself together, her shoulders trembling.
When it was Sebastian''s turn, he looked up quickly, hope flickering in his eyes. "I wasn''t involved. Jane handled all those transfers on her own!"
The investigation cleared Sebastian of helping leak any secrets. Still, because he was supposed to be supervising Leslie and failed at his job, he was fined six hundred thousand, had his spending restricted for a year, and couldn''t leave the country either.
As soon as the news broke, chaos erupted all over Bridger Lake. The fine was nothing to Sebastian, but his reputation was wrecked. Ratcliff Global took a hit too.
The board of directors at Ratcliff Global called an emergency meeting, scrambling to limit the damage by removing Sebastian as chairman.
The boardroom was thick with tension. The older directors sat stiff and serious, while the younger ones whispered among themselves, energy buzzing between them.
The board secretary stepped to the center of the table, holding a stack of papers. "This emergency board meeting is now in session. Today''s agenda: the removal and election of the chairman." She paused, then read aloud, "Due to involvement in a national security case and the resulting administrative penalties, Mr. Sebastian Ratcliff no longer meets thepany''s requirements for chairman, which include a clean record and maintaining our public image. The board is moving to remove him from his position."
Nobody said a word. The silence stretched on.
"We''ll proceed to a vote."
One by one, hands went up around the table. The motion to remove Sebastian passed unanimously. He wasn''t even there-hiswyer was present instead, casting his vote and waiving Sebastian''s right to plead his case. Thewyer stood up, his face nk, and read Sebastians statement. "I respect the board''s decision and will fully cooperate with the investigation."
As soon as that was over, talk of the next chairman exploded around the room.
"I nominate Matthew Ratcliff," one of the older directors said, his hair nearly white. "He''s family, has a military background, and leads de. If he''s chairman, we can rebuild Ratcliff Global''s image."
A few other senior directors chimed in right away. "Agreed. Matthew is the only one who can steady things right now."
The rest of the directors nced at each other but kept quiet. Everyone knew the truth. The older directors weren''t really praising Matthew. They just saw him as inexperienced and easy to control, someone who wouldn''t challenge their authority.
"I disagree," a young director said sharply. "Matthew is only the Ratcliff family''s illegitimate son, and hardly anyone even knows about him. He own''s just five percent of thepany, which doesn''t meet the basic requirements for chairman."
"I nominate Joseph Ratcliff," he added.
Joseph was Sebastian''s cousin and had managed thepany''s southern region for years. He owned twelve percent of the shares and had a ster reputation.
After Sebastian, he was the most promising member of his generation.
"Thank you for your trust," Joseph said, straightening his suit. "The southernregion has brought in thirty-eight percent of our total revenue over thest three years with annual growth over twenty percent. If I be the new chairman, I''ll lead Ratcliff Global to an even brighter future."