Chapter 20: Hidden Diagnoses and a Company’s Secret
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Ellice meets CEO Nate Ashe for lunch in the executive dining room to discuss her concerns about the missing Libertad deal. She intends to raise ethical questions per her legal obligations. Willow interrupts their private conversation. Nate repeats his “family company” speech verbatim, leading Ellice to suspect early dementia. After Nate leaves, Willow reveals that Nate was diagnosed with early‑onset Alzheimer’s two years ago. The entire Executive Committee knows, but the board does not. Willow explains that Michael originally approved the cover‑up to prevent a hostile takeover. Ellice is horrified by the deception and argues that the board must be informed. Willow dismisses her concerns and advises Ellice to “let the guys handle things.”
Key Events
- Ellice schedules a private lunch with Nate to discuss the Libertad deal.
- Nate tells Ellice he is “family” and repeats the same speech he gave in her office the day before, word for word.
- Ellice notices Nate’s repetitive storytelling and wonders if he is in the early stages of dementia.
- Willow joins the table uninvited, cutting off Ellice’s attempt to raise legal concerns.
- Ellice forces Willow’s hand by mentioning their planned diversity meeting in front of Nate.
- After Nate leaves, Willow confesses that Nate has early‑onset Alzheimer’s and that the Executive Committee has been hiding it from the board for two years.
- Willow reveals that Michael approved the secret arrangement.
- Willow warns Ellice not to make waves and to defer to Jonathan and Max.
Character Development
Ellice Little — Demonstrates professional ethics by trying to discuss the missing Libertad file with Nate. Her observational skills catch Nate’s mental slips. She pushes back against Willow’s patronising advice and refuses to accept a submissive role.
Nate Ashe — Shows clear signs of cognitive decline: repeating himself, losing track of conversations, relying on canned phrases. His vulnerability as a leader becomes evident.
Willow Hinton — Reveals herself as a key player in the cover‑up, acting as Nate’s minder. Her claim that she “doesn’t see race” and her advice to “let the guys handle things” expose her alignment with the status quo. She is protective of the secret and dismissive of Ellice’s concerns.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Memory and Truth — Nate’s repetitive speech symbolises the erosion of reliable memory. The missing paper trail for the Libertad deal and the hidden Alzheimer’s diagnosis both suggest that the company’s history is being concealed or rewritten.
Institutional Secrets — The Executive Committee operates as a closed circle, withholding critical information from the board. Willow’s justification (preventing a hostile takeover) echoes the corporate‑survival rhetoric used to justify the cover‑up.
Race and Belonging — Ellice’s observation that Willow only hired a Black figurehead rather than pursuing real diversity underlines the theme of tokenism. The protesters outside the building represent the racial inequalities that the company refuses to address.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point for the corporate mystery. Ellice learns that the CEO is incapacitated and that the entire senior leadership has been running the company without board oversight. It explains why Jonathan and Max have resisted Ellice’s questions: they are protecting a fragile power structure. The revelation also gives Ellice a motive to investigate further — she now knows that the company is being managed by a small group hiding both a medical secret and (likely) the truth about Michael’s death.
Study Questions & Answers
1. Why does Ellice suspect Nate might have dementia?
Ellice notices that Nate repeats his “family company” speech verbatim — the same words he used in her office the day before. He also forgets the Libertad deal momentarily and looks to Willow for direction. These signs of memory loss and repetition lead Ellice to the conclusion.
2. How does Willow defend the decision to keep Nate’s Alzheimer’s from the board?
Willow argues that if the board knew about Nate’s condition, the company could become a target for a hostile takeover or acquisition. She claims that “everyone on the Executive Committee” is aware and that Michael originally approved the plan.
3. What does Willow’s comment “I don’t see race” reveal about her perspective?
Willow’s statement is a common rhetorical move that denies the reality of systemic racism. It reveals her unwillingness to acknowledge the discriminatory hiring practices that sparked the protests. Ellice sees this as a sign that Houghton has no genuine intention to change.