“Daniel would like to resolve this matter discreetly, Mrs.

Sterling.”

I looked around my kitchen, the room where I had spent years sharing meals with a man who made me feel small every time I questioned his judgment.

“I wanted to resolve many things quietly,” I said.

“That was before I understood how long he had been lying to me.”

“A public investigation will damage everyone, including the company.”

“A quiet departure with company funds would have damaged it more.”