CHAPTER FORTY TWO - UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS

Ava watched as Max's face reddened, his temper clearly about to explode. She placed a hand on his arm, a silent warning. To her surprise, he took a deep breath, visibly calming himself. "Ms. Reynolds," Ava interjected smoothly. "This is Ava Hart, Chief Strategy Officer. May I ask what specific evidence these documents contain?" There was a pause on the other end of the line. "They show a pattern of artificial price inflation over the past six months, as well as suspicious stock trades just before major announcements." Ava's mind raced. Six months... that was before she joined the company, before Max took over. She exchanged a glance with Max, seeing the same realization dawn in his eyes. "Ms. Reynolds," Ava said carefully. "I understand your concerns. However, I can assure you that since Mr. Bennett took over as CEO, we've implemented stringent ethical guidelines. Would you be willing to share these documents with us? We'd like the opportunity to address each point specifically."