"She was attending a board meeting at her company."

(chapter originally by faith on writing.com)

"Excuse me? May I address one final item?" Haru Okumura asked, biting back her nervousness as she rose to her feet and all eyes turned towards her.

The meeting had gone better than expected so far. There was a notable number of disapproving expressions and dirty looks among the board members and shareholders, but most of the business people at least seemed impartial or even cautiously supportive of her being there. And of course even her most ardent critics had not had the courage to challenge the acting President Takakura when he insisted on allowing her to sit in and contribute to the meeting. Most of her suggestions and thoughts had all been regarding new branches of the company and quality in their food and products, and while using higher quality ingredients and offering actual benefits and decent schedules to their workers was going to be expensive the board members were at present most concerned with rehabilitating the company image after the more heinous of her father's practices had come to light. Therefore, a passionate plea for cleaning up the company from the heiress was not at all unwelcome, although Haru wasn't naive enough to think this enthusiasm would remain so high when the cost analysis for the reforms came in. But that was a worry for the future. For now, she was only top happy to ride the wave of general enthusiasm for her proposals as much as possible to propose something truly controversial.

"I think it would be prudent...to run an internal audit on company gains and losses over the past year." Haru said.

"....Not that I object to the idea, Miss Okumura. But we routinely check the books several times a year." One of the executives chimed in. "Why do another one so soon to the end of the quarter?"

Haru breathed in. This was it. "I believe, in light of recent events, we should do a focused audit around the dates of all mental shutdown cases in the last year. Appraise how our company profited, and especially which branches benefited most. And which people."

There was a long silence.

"Miss Okumura...I understand that you'd be as eager to catch the Phantom Thieves as anyone after what they did to your father, but surely this is a matter best left to the police?" Another boardmember popped up.

Haru frowned. Of course she knew that the Phantom Thieves had nothing to do with her father's ****, since she was in fact one of them. "I am not fully convinced this was because of the Phantom Thieves. As detective Akechi has stated, this does not fit with the pattern of their past work. And of course the mental shutdowns were happening well before the first incident of the Phantom Thieves."

"Clearly that was their business prior to this stealing hearts routine." One of her critics said.

"Again, I don't find that convincing. If the two phenomena were coming from the same group, why create the phantom thieves at all? Let the incidents and deaths be written off as stress related or fluke accidents. Why deliberately draw attention to your ability to affects people's minds as the Thieves do when you were profiting perfectly well in secret?"

The board members exchanged looks and whispers a moment. "An...interesting theory, Ma'am, but surely it remains a matter for the police?"

"You misunderstand. I don't want to find the Phantom Thieves or the mental shutdown instigators. I want to ensure we are no longer doing business with them or anyone tied to them." Haru said, laying her hands on the table.

Takakura leaned forward in his seat. "You think someone in the company besides your father had contacts with them?"

"That's my concern, yes." Haru nodded. "I loved my father, but the knowledge that he would go so far as to drive his competitors insane or even kill them makes me ashamed! And the thought that anyone else in this company conspired with him, and perhaps was in any way associated with his ****...that is unforgivable! I fear we cannot possibly move forward or make a fresh start as a company until we have identified any and all areas of corruption leftover from my father's actions!"

"Surely you aren't suggesting any significant profit made in those timeframed is a clear indicator of guilt? What if that is merely an example of shrewd business sense and the timing is a coincidence? Or perhaps your father merely wanted to grow that area of the company and his managers profited without knowledge of his methods?" Another executive objected.

"I am merely suggesting this as a place to begin. Obviously further investigation would be needed before any kind of action would take place on the company's part." Haru said.

Really, all she wanted were a list of names. She doubted anyone in bed with her father would be capable of existing without a Palace or a shadow in Mementos. Rattle off all the names on the list and see which ones the App reacts to. The Phantom Thieves would take care of the rest.

"Miss Okumura...do you believe anyone at this table is a part of this...corruption, as you put it?" Another executive asked.

"....I don't want to believe that. But after what I learned about my father, my faith has been shaken. I no longer know who I can trust personally or professionally. I believe the public currently faces the same doubts. Not to mention our shareholders. We want to restore trust, and that begins by knowing who can be trusted. I realize that is a lot to ask, especially for those who have been here the longest. I also hope you can see the necessity and can have faith that the truth will come out and loyal, dedicated members of our company have nothing to fear from any probe we conduct." Haru offered.

As expected, the mood around the table had darkened considerably. Takakura at last cleared his throat. "If we were to approve this audit, I presume we should begin with the Wild Duck Burger case?"

Haru paused. "Wild Duck Burger?"

"Yes...umm...earlier this year there was an incident in which a wild duck burger employee suffered a breakdown and came to work without any clothes on. The incident caused a scandal, **** Wild Duck to close several locations, and effectively eliminated them as a competitor due to their damaged reputation."

"Oh...yes. I...heard about that." Haru blushed. "I had not made the connection."

The meeting went on. No firm agreement on an audit was reached, but the idea was better received than expected. A recess was called for lunch. President Takakura moved to pull Haru aside as the other executives shuffled out.

"That was a...bold suggestion, Miss Okumura." Takakura said.

"Thank you. I think it went well."

"Indeed. But are you certain this is wise? Poking a hornet's nest of killers could put your life in danger."

"Thank you for your concern. But I don't believe I will be a target. I think my father's **** means whoever is responsible for these mental incidents has cut ties with the company. Anyone associated with them has to fend for themselves now." Haru said.

That was a lie, of course. She firmly believed their mysterious rivals in the heart stealing business were still connected to the company. But unlike her father, Haru had a Persona instead of a shadow. Unlike a shadow, there was no way to **** her by attacking her other self.

With that in mind, Haru took her leave and made her way to a subway platform to get some lunch before the meeting began again. Meanwhile, in Mementos, a figure covered in black watched her indistinct approach. This was a thin space, much like the safe havens dotted throughout the Palaces. Here the lines between the real world and Mementos were thin enough for the two to visually oscillate back and forth. Akechi had learned that in such places his unique Persona abilities could pass over and touch the minds of people in the real world. Of course, it was not lethal the way killing a Persona was. But he had a special talent for corrupting shadows and personas, driving them somewhat mad. Which was good. He had no desire to kill Haru Okumura if possible. But a message should be sent. A warning. And a bit of humiliation. A repeat of the Wild Duck incident should suffice quite nicely. And his contacts within Big Bang Burger would reward him handsomely for delivering that message promptly.