Chapter 19 - The Last Employee
Rachel's message contained one final attachment.
She opened it.
"A resignation letter."
Mark looked away immediately.
Vanessa noticed.
"You know who wrote it."
Rachel nodded.
"The company's financial director."
Emma looked surprised.
"You had a financial director?"
Mark answered quietly.
"I had."
Rachel began reading aloud.
"'I can no longer continue my employment while knowingly participating in financial practices that may expose employees and clients to unnecessary legal risks.'"
Nobody interrupted.
"'Repeated requests for accurate accounting records have been ignored.'"
Emma stared at Mark.
"'Bank obligations remain undisclosed to investors.'"
Vanessa sighed.
"I warned you."
Rachel continued.
"'The company now appears to exist primarily to refinance previous debt rather than conduct profitable business.'"
The room became silent again.
Helen, who had quietly remained in the kitchen preparing coffee for everyone, looked toward Mark with genuine sadness.
"I remember when you hired that young man."
Mark nodded slowly.
"He was twenty-six."
"He admired you."
"I know."
"You used to say he reminded you of yourself."
Mark looked down.
"I did."
Rachel placed the letter back inside the folder.
"It appears he spent almost a year trying to convince you to change direction."
Emma whispered,
"And you ignored him."
Mark laughed quietly.
"He quit three weeks ago."
Vanessa looked surprised.
"You never told anyone."
"I couldn't."
"Why?"
"Because if people knew he left..."
"...everyone else would leave too."
Rachel nodded.
"They did."
Mark looked around the apartment.
For the first time that evening...
He realized something.
Nobody had betrayed him.
One by one...
May you like
People had simply stopped believing him.
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