“Finally,” he said to his employer’s attorney.
“You need to shut this down.
My wife is retaliating because she discovered a personal relationship.”
The attorney placed a company phone on the table.
“Mr.
Morgan, did you authorize Ms.
Bennett to transmit confidential competitor data to a private account?”
“No.”
Chloe turned toward him.
“You watched me send it.”
“She’s lying to save herself,” Ryan said.
“Did you meet Daniel Cross at your home?” Martin asked.
“No.”
Claire rotated her phone and played the security video.
Ryan watched himself enter the office with the folder.
He watched Daniel Cross follow him.
His expression did not change until the audio began.
The camera microphone had captured only fragments through the closed door, but one sentence was clear.
Ryan’s voice said, “Once Claire’s signature is on it, the board won’t question the recommendation.”
No one spoke.
Ryan stared at Claire.
“You recorded me in my own home?”
“The camera has been there for four years,” she said.
“You installed it after a package was stolen.”
He looked toward his employer’s attorney.
“That audio is out of context.”
The attorney closed his notebook.
“Your access credentials were also used to upload NorthStar pricing into our internal proposal system.
The company is terminating your employment effective immediately for gross misconduct, subject to preservation of all records and devices.”
Ryan’s face finally changed.
“You can’t fire me based on this.
I brought in half the revenue for my division.”
“The NorthStar bid has been disqualified.
Two other clients have already requested reviews of accounts you managed.
Your revenue figures are no longer the central issue.”
Ryan stood.
The officer at the door told him to sit down.
He did, but his composure was gone.
He turned to Claire.
“Tell them I had permission to use your files.”
She looked at the man she had married seven years earlier.
She remembered how charming he had been when they met, how attentively he listened, how proud he seemed when she earned her promotion.
Over time, pride had become competition.
Her success irritated him unless he could borrow it, display it, or use it.
Now he wanted one more thing from her.
A lie.
“You did not have permission,” she said.
“Think carefully.
The apartment, our accounts, everything we built—this affects you too.”
Elena answered before Claire could.
“The company’s interests are separate from the Morgans’ marital assets.
Claire reported the breach, cooperated with the investigation, and is represented independently.
Threatening her will not improve your position.”
Ryan looked around the room and realized every person had stopped accepting his version.
Then he made his final mistake.
“Fine,” he said.
