Chapter 4 - Three Weeks Undercover
My new employee badge identified me as Claire Bennett.
Only the general counsel, audit chair, and security director knew the truth.
I spent three weeks booking meeting rooms, sorting vendor records, carrying coffee, and listening while senior people spoke as though assistants were furniture.
Mara treated junior staff with polished contempt.
She corrected their clothing.
Sent them on personal errands.
Blamed them for calendar mistakes she created herself.
Whenever Ethan entered the room, her entire expression softened.
They exchanged glances that lasted half a second too long.
Once, I found her hand resting on his lower back inside an empty conference room.
I photographed the reflection in the glass.
The affair hurt.
But it no longer surprised me.
What surprised me was how openly they discussed the financial scheme when they believed no important person could hear.
Mara told Ethan that Blackridge needed another transfer before quarter-end.
Ethan said the board might question it.
She replied:
Your wife signs whatever you put in front of her.
He laughed.
“She trusts me.”
I saved the recording.
They had also begun preparing documents to dilute my trust’s voting position through a new employee equity issuance.
Ethan planned to present the papers at home as routine compensation approvals.
If I signed, his loyal executives would receive enough shares to weaken my control.
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The affair explained why he lied to me.
The fraud explained why he needed me legally blind.
