Chapter 10 - The Dinner Speech
The foundation dinner filled the mansion with donors and cameras. Richard wanted to cancel; Graham insisted the scholarships depended on good publicity.
“Tonight,” Graham said into the microphone, “we announce the Caldwell Nursing Opportunity Fund.”
Nora stood by the dining-room doors with a tray of water glasses. Her shoes were the same scuffed pair she'd worn from Arkansas.
Madison saw a donor point at Nora. “Isn't that the employee who attacked you?”
“No,” Madison replied. “I raised my hand at her. She stopped me. She was right.”
Every face at the table turned.
Graham was near enough to hear. His jaw tightened.
Richard stepped forward for a toast. “We believe nobody's circumstances should determine their worth—”
“Then why did your company call June Hayes a thief?” Nora asked.
The question came out louder than she intended. Somebody stopped recording the dinner. Somebody else started.
Richard set down his glass. “Nora, this isn't the place.”
“It wasn't the place when she asked for help either.”
Madison stood. “Dad, answer her.”
Graham took the microphone. “A regrettable personnel issue from decades ago has no bearing on tonight's event.”
“It has bearing on whether we trust the charity's leadership,” a donor said.
Richard's phone buzzed with a note from counsel. He read it, then turned the screen toward Madison and Nora.
May you like
A pending transfer of nearly three million dollars from the foundation had just been flagged by the bank. The proposed recipient wasn't a school or clinic.
Its registered agent was Graham Pierce.
