Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS PLAYING BOTH SIDES
Aaron had always considered himself an excellent judge of character.
He built his career by negotiating acquisitions, hiring executives, and recognizing opportunities before his competitors did.
Yet he had failed to recognize what was happening directly beside him.
Jasmine wasn't simply under investigation for questionable consulting invoices.
The audit committee had discovered evidence that confidential acquisition information was being shared outside Prescott Global.
The recipient was connected to Garrett Vale, an executive at Westbridge International.
The company competing with Prescott Global for a major European acquisition.
When Aaron learned about the findings, he demanded an immediate meeting with the board.
“I want to speak to Jasmine.”
The committee's legal counsel advised him not to interfere with the investigation.
Aaron became furious.
“She has worked with me for eighteen months.”
“And that is one reason your involvement presents a conflict,” the attorney answered.
For the first time in years, Aaron discovered that being chief executive did not mean he could override every decision made around him.
Meanwhile, Harborstone's independent investment team requested a formal assessment of the potential financial exposure.
The acquisition was a major part of Prescott Global's expansion strategy.
If confidential bid information had reached a competitor, the company needed to understand the consequences before committing more money.
I attended the appropriate meetings but recused myself from decisions directly involving Aaron's alleged misconduct.
My personal grievances would not become the basis for Harborstone's investment decisions.
That distinction mattered to me.
I had spent three years watching Aaron confuse what he wanted with what everyone else supposedly needed.
I refused to repeat his mistake.
Two days later, Olivia called Nathan with an update from the authorized corporate investigation.
Jasmine had acknowledged forwarding certain documents to Garrett.
She claimed he was providing independent strategic advice.
But the company's investigators had found messages discussing Prescott Global's proposed acquisition price and the maximum amount Aaron was prepared to offer.
That information was commercially sensitive.
Westbridge had subsequently submitted a competing proposal narrowly above Prescott Global's intended bid.
The investigation could not yet establish every consequence, but the timing raised serious questions.
Aaron had lost the acquisition.
And the woman he had trusted with confidential information had been communicating with the executive whose company won it.
That evening, he appeared outside Nathan's office.
I was leaving after a meeting.
When he saw me, he stopped.
“Claire.”
“Aaron.”
He looked thinner.
His face had lost the easy confidence I remembered from our wedding.
“Did you know about Garrett?”
“Not until the investigation.”
He stared at the sidewalk.
“I thought Jasmine loved me.”
I said nothing.
For three years, he had treated my love as something guaranteed.
Now he seemed devastated to discover that the affection he pursued elsewhere might have come with conditions.
Then he looked up.
“Did you ever love me?”
The question almost made me angry.
Instead, I felt unexpectedly sad.
“Yes, Aaron.”
His expression changed.
“I loved you enough to give up a life I had already started building.”
He swallowed.
“And you barely noticed when I disappeared inside yours.”
I walked past him.
He didn't follow.
That night, Olivia informed the board that investigators had identified additional payments from Cole Strategic Advisory to a company connected to Garrett.
The transactions required further examination.
But the next discovery was even more damaging.
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Some of the payments had been made only hours after Jasmine received money from Prescott Global.
The company's investigators now had reason to examine whether the questionable consulting fees had helped finance the operation benefiting its competitor.
