CHAPTER FOURTEEN BB: THE MORNING AFTER THE HEADLINE

The newspaper published a detailed account of the foundation’s interim review the next morning.
The article described unsupported vendor charges, misleading progress claims, and the board’s corrective actions.
It also mentioned the separation between Cedric and Yvette and Damian’s role as a technical consultant.
Yvette read the article at her kitchen table before calling Elaine.
Elaine said the foundation would respond to factual errors but would not attempt to control every opinion expressed about the investigation.
Yvette agreed.
Damian received two messages from old acquaintances who wanted details about his relationship with Yvette.
He answered neither.
Niko called to ask whether the article would affect the hospital kitchen project.
Damian said the customer had not raised any concern and the crew should proceed as scheduled.
At noon, Simone sent Yvette a message saying Lena Kline had completed her first practical assessment at the culinary school.
Lena had prepared a meal for six people under a strict time limit.
Keisha said she had passed and would continue into the next stage.
Yvette read the message twice.
She replied with congratulations for Lena and thanks for the update.
Then she returned to the corrections requested by the independent administrator.
The article remained open on her laptop, but she no longer needed to keep reading it.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN BC: THE EVENING BEFORE THE OPEN HOUSE

Yvette met Simone and Elaine at the warehouse to prepare for the public open house.
The building was still unfinished, and the committee had decided to show visitors only the areas that could be entered safely.
Damian arrived with temporary barriers and clear signs identifying restricted spaces.
Graham checked the route and confirmed that no visitor would need to cross an active work area.
Simone arranged tables for the independent review team and the existing training partners.
Elaine asked whether the foundation should display the original construction renderings.
Yvette said the renderings could be shown only if clearly identified as concepts rather than completed rooms.
The group agreed.
Joseph Kline arrived early to help carry chairs.
He said his daughter wanted to attend but had a culinary class that afternoon.
Yvette told him the class was more important than the meeting.
Joseph smiled and said he had hoped she would say that.
As the evening approached, the group reviewed the questions they expected visitors to ask.
They prepared factual answers about the building’s condition, the review’s scope, and the services currently operating elsewhere.
Yvette looked around the empty room and remembered the ceremony where Cedric had held a large key in front of a crowd.
She wondered how many people had believed the building was ready because she had smiled beside him.
Damian asked whether she needed a moment.
Yvette said she was ready to open the doors and let people see what was actually there.
They turned off the lights and left the building together.