Chapter 15 - THE CORPORATE FALLOUT
Northeastern University’s administration building was buzzing with frantic media reporters and emergency board members.
The academic senate had convened an extraordinary session to address the financial scandal involving Dr.
Daniel Sterling and the embezzled research grants.
I sat in the boardroom opposite the university president,
accompanied by Attorney Richard Sterling.
“On behalf of the university board,
I want to express our deepest shock and profound apology,
” the university president said,
his hands clasped nervously over the mahogany table.
“Dr.
Sterling’s actions represent a severe breach of academic ethics and institutional trust.
”
“He has been permanently terminated with zero pension benefits or severance.
”
“We are also cooperating fully with federal investigators regarding the fraudulent grant applications.
”
I nodded calmly,
reviewing the official termination documents.
“The university bears institutional responsibility for failing to audit those grants properly for over three years,
” I pointed out smoothly.
“However,
my primary concern is ensuring that the architectural partnership funds siphoned through university accounts are fully recovered and returned.
”
“Every dollar,
Ms.
Harding,
” the president assured me quickly.
“Our legal team has already initiated wire recovery protocols with federal banks.
”
“You will receive the full restitution within forty-eight hours.
”
Richard smiled faintly,
sliding an additional document across the table.
“And as part of the settlement,
the university will officially fund the newly established Sterling-Harding Architectural Fellowship for women in engineering,
” Richard added.
“Funded entirely from Daniel’s forfeited departmental endowment.
”
The president swallowed hard,
glanced at the papers,
and signed his name without hesitation.
“Done,
” the president agreed.
“A fitting tribute to a brilliant architect whose career was temporarily derailed by institutional oversight.
”
We stood up,
shook hands professionally,
and walked out of the boardroom.
The media cameras flashed relentlessly as we stepped outside into the crisp Boston air.
I did not stop to answer their questions.
May you like
I simply slid into the backseat of the waiting town car,
feeling the final chains of the past seven years fall completely away.
