Chloe eventually cooperated with federal prosecutors regarding the questionable invoices.
Daniel accused her of betraying him.
She testified that he had repeatedly assured her everything was authorized.
Six months after the divorce, I walked into Sterling Global’s main boardroom.
I had entered that room hundreds of times before.
But I had almost always taken one of the side seats.
Daniel liked the center.
That morning, my nameplate was positioned at the head of the table.
I stopped for a moment.
Then I remembered something my mother had told me shortly before she died.
“You don’t need to shout to have authority, Audrey. But never confuse peace with silence.”
At the time, I thought she was giving me business advice.
Now I understood she had been talking about much more.
I took my seat.
Over the next two hours, the board approved stronger internal financial controls, independent oversight committees, and changes to executive governance.
