Chapter 7 - THE MODEL HE THOUGHT I HAD FORGOTTEN
I recognized the financial model immediately.
The layout.
The stress-testing structure.
The way the cash-flow scenarios were organized.
Even the unusual color coding I had developed after a client once told me he couldn't distinguish the conservative forecast from the aggressive one during a presentation.
I had built the original framework through my consulting company, Bennett Financial Planning, before taking my last full-time corporate position.
It was my work.
Grant knew that.
I had shown him the model years earlier when he was preparing for a difficult budget review.
At the time, he called it brilliant.
Apparently, he had since decided it was available for his new business to use without asking.
I called Ava.
She advised me not to open confidential material I wasn't authorized to review or use the hiring process to settle a personal dispute.
But she also helped me prepare an accurate statement explaining my authorship of the framework and clarifying that I had not authorized Northline to present me as a participant or adviser.
The next morning, I met Rebecca Shaw.
I disclosed the potential conflict before discussing anything else.
“My husband has an interest in Northline Advisory. We're separating, and I have concerns that the firm's presentation may include a forecasting framework I created.”
Rebecca listened carefully.
Then she looked at the presentation materials.
“Northline identifies you as a senior technical adviser.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
She turned her laptop toward me.
There, on the proposed engagement team, was my name.
Emily Bennett.
Thirteen years of corporate planning experience.
Former senior director of financial planning and analysis.
Independent consultant.
The biography was largely accurate.
Except for one thing.
I had never agreed to work for Northline.
Rebecca looked at me.
“Did you authorize them to include you?”
“No.”
“Have you performed any work for their proposed engagement?”
“No.”
She nodded slowly.
“Then we have a serious problem with their representation.”
I handed her the documentation I had prepared with Ava.
My original model.
Dated files.
My consulting business's records.
And a concise statement explaining that Northline had no authority to use my name or imply my involvement.
Rebecca thanked me.
Then she surprised me.
“I'd like to continue your interview independently of Northline's proposal.”
I almost laughed from relief.
“Thank you.”
“Your qualifications are your own, Emily. Someone else's conduct doesn't erase them.”
The rest of the interview lasted nearly two hours.
We discussed Redwood's acquisition.
Its financing structure.
The need for a realistic integration schedule.
And the importance of protecting operating cash during the first eighteen months.
By the end, Rebecca was taking notes so quickly she asked me to slow down.
I hadn't felt that professionally alive in months.
Then my phone rang.
Grant.
I declined the call.
He called again.
Then sent a message.
What did you say to Redwood? Elise says they've put our proposal on hold.
I looked at the screen.
Another message appeared.
You had no right to interfere with my business.
I typed one response.
You had no right to use my name or represent me as part of your team without my consent.
He replied immediately.
We're married. Your work is part of our shared future.
I stared at the sentence.
My work was apparently shared when he could profit from it.
My income was supposedly irrelevant when he wanted to belittle me.
The contradiction was almost astonishing.
Then Rebecca's assistant called.
The hiring committee had decided to move forward with an offer.
But before we finished discussing the details, she mentioned something unexpected.
Northline's proposal contained a letter claiming that I had agreed to serve as its financial guarantor if Redwood awarded the consulting contract.
The letter was dated three weeks earlier.
May you like
And the signature beneath it was mine.
Except, once again, I had never signed it.
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