Free Steele Trap (Heart of Steele) by Crystal Blue Page A

the faces arrayed at the conference table around him
when the George got to the financial discrepancy caused Wally's heart to sink.
He was in desperate trouble; he'd better be at his most eloquent. At last, the
financial report was finished, and the CFO had mentioned that the money was on
its way back where it belonged, with interest. Relief showed on a few of the
faces, but others still showed grave concern.
    Wally spoke before
anyone else had a chance.
    "I'm sure you all
have something to say, and I can imagine what. You will each have your turn.
However, before that begins, please allow me to say a few words, after which,
I'll throw myself on your mercy."
    As one of his board
members started to speak, Wally held up his hand. He was still CEO; his words
would come first.
    "First, let me say
that I take full responsibility for what happened here. I didn't involve anyone
else. When George found the discrepancy, he came to me to warn me that what I did
was highly illegal, and I asked him for the opportunity to make it right with
the money before he blew the whistle. His only involvement was to delay
reporting to you until this meeting, a matter of a week at most. I hope you
will see fit to keep him as CFO, because he is blameless in this matter.
    "Next, I want to
apologize from the bottom of my heart that I had the poor judgment to make a
loan to an old friend from corporate funds, instead of using my own. I didn't understand
how wrong it was, but I did know it wasn't right. I shouldn't have done it, and
I'm prepared to pay the price, whatever that might be.
    "Finally, I want
to say that, no matter what happens today, I have been proud to work with each
one of you. I hope that we will still be friends when all is said and done, and
intend that to be the case on my side, at least.
    "Now, I am going
to excuse myself while our corporate attorney explains what your options are,
and while you debate what to do. I will be in my office when you have made your
decision."
    No one uttered so much
as a whisper while Wally rose from his seat at the head of the table and made
his exit in a confident stride. Whatever happened now, he could be proud of
himself for owning up to his error. While he waited for a decision, he called
his admin assistant in to tell her what was happening.
     
    Only an hour later, the
corporate attorney arrived in Wally's office to issue the verdict.
    "Wally, I'm sorry,
they intend to remove you as CEO."
    Steele's head dropped,
but in a moment he looked up into the other man's eyes again.
    "Criminal
charges?"
    "No. What they
want to do is put you on probation, after a fashion. You'll still be a member
of the board. Assuming we get through this without an audit and you keep your
nose clean, you'll be reinstated as CEO a year from now."
    "Seriously? They'd
let me come back?"
    "They recognize
your ability, Wally. They realize they need your leadership. Owens is taking
over as CEO pro-tem, but he will lean heavily on you for help. Don't steer him
wrong, and you'll be okay."
    Wally pumped the man's
hand, overcome with joy. He would have a chance to rebuild, and Jake's help in
getting the money back where it belonged was what gave him that chance. After a
celebratory shot of Johnny with the attorney, his next task was to call Jake
and tell him the good news.

Chapter
Fifteen
     
    Ashley landed a job in
the couture department at Neiman Marcus in Cherry Creek only a week after her
dad informed her that he wouldn't be in a position to offer her any job she
wanted, but that her application would still be welcomed at his company. After
mulling it over, she told Wally that she would rather make it on her own, not
on her name, and he respected her decision. Jess found it a little ironic that
Ashley would still be living at home, since her base salary wouldn't cover an
apartment. But, Ashley was optimistic that she would soon be making enough in
commission to move in with Becky.
    Wally explained Jake’s
role in the last-minute