The room became quieter.
“These expenses were not included in your valuation model.”
Richard immediately responded.
“They were considered.”
Jessica shook her head.
“No. They were mentioned.”
She tapped the screen.
“That is different.”
She moved to the next page.
“The acquisition projection assumes these costs will be absorbed over time.”
She looked around the room.
“But the agreement requires immediate restructuring.”
One board member frowned.
“How significant is the difference?”
Jessica answered without hesitation.
“Over 180 million dollars.”
The room reacted instantly.
A few executives whispered.
Richard’s face tightened.
“That is an interpretation.”
Jessica moved to the next document.
“No. It is accounting.”
Then came the second issue.
“Westfield’s technology patents.”
The screen changed.
“The valuation report estimates these assets based on future market potential.”
She paused.
“But it ignores the fact that several patents are currently under legal challenge.”
Victoria looked shocked.
“Legal challenge?”
Richard turned toward her.
“That issue is minor.”
Jessica looked back.
“Minor?”
She clicked again.
A lawsuit appeared.
Filed months earlier.
Not disclosed in Richard’s presentation.
“A patent dispute that could invalidate several of Westfield’s most valuable technologies.”
Nobody spoke.
Jessica continued.
“The final problem is the one that concerns me most.”
She looked directly at Richard.
“You knew.”
That word hit differently.
Richard stood.
“Careful.”
Jessica did not move.
“You knew about these risks.”
Richard’s voice became sharper.
“You are accusing me of intentionally misleading the board?”
“I am asking the board to investigate why these details were excluded.”
That was different.
Jessica was not making an emotional accusation.
She was presenting facts.
And everyone understood the difference.
Richard looked around the room.
He realized something.
The people who usually supported him were not looking at Jessica anymore.
They were looking at the documents.
At the evidence.
At him.
His control was slipping.
“This is absurd.”
He pointed toward Jessica.
“She has been secretly investigating employees.”
Jessica calmly answered.
“Yes.”
The room reacted.
Richard smiled.
“See?”
But Jessica continued.
“Because nobody was willing to investigate openly.”
The smile disappeared.
“I received dozens of complaints from employees who were afraid to speak.”
She looked toward Victoria.
“Because they believed nothing would happen.”
Victoria lowered her eyes.
The truth hurt.
Because she knew it was true.
Jessica turned back.
“Richard, do you remember why Pinnacle Tech was founded?”
He said nothing.
She answered herself.
“Because I believed talented people should not need permission to be heard.”
Her voice became stronger.
“Not from executives.”
“Not from investors.”
“Not from people who believe their title makes them superior.”
Richard’s jaw tightened.
“You’re making this personal.”
“No.”
Jessica shook her head.
“I’m making this responsible.”
After the meeting ended, the tension inside Pinnacle changed.
Everyone knew something major had happened.
Employees whispered in hallways.
Managers exchanged nervous messages.
The company that had operated under Richard’s shadow suddenly felt different.
But Jessica knew the battle was not over.