What they didn’t know was that I’d already purchased eight percent of Sterling Industries through my first shell company, Evergreen Holdings LLC. The shares were bought from a disgruntled board member, Eleanor Blackwood, who Richard had pushed out. She was more than happy to sell to an anonymous investor who shared her vision for corporate accountability.

The second blow came in January, completely by accident. While waiting in the executive conference room, I noticed a folder marked Sterling Estate Planning – Confidential left on the table. I shouldn’t have looked, but I did.