The boxes were taken away, the cabinets relocated, and my father’s framed photograph returned to the shelf.

I replaced the large executive chair Mark had selected for himself with the smaller one I’d used years earlier.

I didn’t need a throne.

I needed a desk where people felt comfortable bringing problems before they became emergencies.

At a staff meeting, I explained the changes without turning private allegations into office entertainment.

There would be dual approvals for certain payments, conflict-of-interest disclosures, documentation for consulting work, and a safe channel for reporting concerns.

I thanked the people who had kept the business operating during a difficult period.