Chapter 5: Everything I lost
The company investigation lasted six weeks.
By the end, no one used words like misunderstanding anymore.
Some expenses were legitimate.
Some were sloppy.
Some had been reimbursed late.
And some had no defensible business purpose at all.
The final amount was not large enough to destroy Keaton Development Group.
That fact should have relieved me.
The size was not the point.
Trust was.
The board gave me a choice.
Resign as chief executive and surrender operational control while remaining a non-managing shareholder, or face a formal removal vote.
Years earlier, I’d have fought.
I’d have threatened.
I’d have called investors.
I’d have reminded everyone whose name was on the building.
Instead, I looked through the conference room windows at the city skyline and signed the resignation.
My name stayed on the company for the time being.
My office did not.
Nathan became interim CEO.
