At 2:00 a.m., My Husband Thought I Was Asleep While He Emptied Our Safe to Run Off With His Mistress. Before Leaving, He Kissed Me and Whispered, “Poor Audrey. You Never Saw This Coming.” Hours Later He Sent a Photo From the Airport. I Replied With Four Words That Made Him Call Me Immediately.

At the time I thought she was talking about governance.

Later I understood she was talking about a life.

I took the chair.

The meeting lasted two hours.

We did not spend them on the gossip the city preferred.

We spent them on structure.

New internal financial controls.

Independent oversight committees.