One board member, an older man named Franklin, interrupted partway through. "Are you certain about this, Everett? This is a serious accusation." "I have logs, timestamps, and a confession from the technician who processed her tickets," Everett said. "I'm not guessing. I'm reporting." Franklin sat back, quiet for the rest of the presentation. By the end, even he was nodding along with the room.
The board voted unanimously. They suspended Paige's access to every system immediately.
News of the suspension spread through the office within the hour. Most employees had liked Paige, or at least respected her efficiency. A few came to Everett's office directly, asking what was actually happening. He told them the truth, plainly, without dressing it up. "She used this company to hurt my family," he said. "I won't hide that from you." Some of them cried. Some of them simply nodded and went back to their desks, quieter than before. One longtime foreman had worked there since the firm's earliest days. His name was Hollis. He shook Everett's hand on his way out that evening. "Glad you finally see it," he said. "Some of us saw it a while back." Everett didn't ask what he meant. He suspected he already knew.
