The Woman They Called Unstable
Chapter 09 - The Woman They Called Unstable
Victor made his move quickly.
By Friday morning, rumors were spreading through Harbor Mobility.
Eleanor was confused.
Eleanor was depressed.
Eleanor had become obsessed with conspiracy theories.
The language was careful.
Nobody called her incompetent directly.
They didn't need to.
At an emergency board meeting, Victor sat at the head of the table.
Eleanor noticed the symbolism.
She rolled into the room beside Samuel Pierce.
Victor smiled.
“This is a private corporate meeting.”
Samuel sat down.
“Wonderful. I dislike crowds.”
Nobody laughed.
Eleanor placed Daniel Cross's test report on the table.
Victor didn't touch it.
“Where did you obtain stolen company material?”
Samuel leaned back.
“Interesting first question.”
Eleanor looked at the directors.
“This report confirms a serious defect in the Model Aster caster system.”
One director adjusted his glasses.
“The Aster was discontinued years ago.”
“After six hundred and twelve units entered circulation.”
“According to whom?”
“Your records.”
Victor interrupted.
“Records copied illegally by a terminated employee.”
“Daniel Cross wasn't terminated.”
Silence.
Eleanor continued.
“He died.”
Two directors looked at Victor.
Victor barely blinked.
“A tragic situation.”
“Then why did Harbor change his employment status to resigned?”
“I have no knowledge of administrative errors.”
Eleanor almost admired him.
Almost.
Every answer had been prepared.
Then Victor turned the meeting against her.
He spoke about Eleanor's trauma.
Her medication.
Her long absence.
The emotional consequences of permanent disability.
Eleanor listened as a man who had buried a safety defect calmly weaponized her wheelchair against her.
Finally, Victor folded his hands.
“We all love Eleanor.”
Samuel muttered, “Here it comes.”
Victor continued.
“But leadership sometimes means protecting people from themselves.”
Eleanor smiled.
“Are you finished?”
Victor hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
She turned toward the directors.
“Before you vote on my mental fitness, I have one question.”
She placed a second document on the table.
“My chair was from the defective batch.”
Nobody moved.
“I reported caster problems two days before a fall that worsened my spinal injury.”
Victor's face lost color.
“One of your executive-office employees cleared that chair for continued use.”
Eleanor leaned toward him.
“Would you like to explain that before or after you explain Daniel Cross?”
The board meeting exploded.
Directors began talking over one another.
Victor stood.
“This meeting is over.”
“No,” Eleanor said.
“For you, Victor, I think it's just beginning.”
Then the conference-room doors opened.
A security officer entered.
He walked directly toward Rachel.
“Rachel Bennett?”
“Yes?”
“We need you to come with us.”
Eleanor moved between them.
“Why?”
The officer handed Rachel a document.
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Harbor Mobility had formally accused her of stealing proprietary data.
And the company wanted her arrested.
