Chapter 21 · Curtain

"Ladies and gentlemen, before we close the vote," Marchetti says into the mic, "I think Ms. Vale owes this board some honesty."

My stomach drops through the floor. Two hundred shareholders in a ballroom, a proxy vote still open on the screen behind him, and Marchetti's smiling like he's already won.

"Honesty about what," I say, and my voice doesn't shake, which is the only thing I've got right now.

"About your brother." He lets that sit. "About Fairhaven Recovery, Room 214, and the fact that our CFO's been running Voss Holdings numbers while her own house is on fire."

Someone gasps. A phone comes up. I can already see tomorrow's headline forming behind twenty different pairs of eyes.

"Say it plain, Marchetti," I snap. "Or sit down."

"Danny Vale relapsed six weeks ago. Checked into rehab under a fake name. I have the intake forms." He holds up a folder like it's a trophy. "Question is whether this board wants a CFO who can't manage her own family, let alone nine billion in assets.