Chapter 15 - Adrian Chooses a SideAdrian convened Mercer Development's board.
Leonard attended by video.
Adrian placed copies of the environmental reports on the table.
Several directors went pale.
“We are turning everything over to state and federal investigators,” Adrian announced.
Chaos erupted.
One director shouted:
“Do you understand what this will do to us?”
“Yes.”
“We'll lose contracts.”
“Probably.”
“Share price could collapse.”
“Yes.”
Leonard's voice came through the screen.
“Adrian, end this meeting.”
“No.”
“I am still the largest voting shareholder.”
“Not after today.”
Adrian had spent the previous night reviewing the trust structure.
A rarely used emergency clause allowed the CEO to suspend family voting rights when credible evidence showed those rights had been used to conceal criminal conduct.
Adrian invoked it.
Leonard stared through the screen.
“You would destroy your grandfather's company for that girl?”
Adrian's expression became ice.
“That girl is my daughter.”
Silence.
“And Julianne was my wife.”
Leonard said nothing.
Adrian continued.
“You taught me the Mercer name mattered because it meant something.”
He pushed the documents toward the board.
“If preserving the name requires burying poisoned schools, dead women, and my own family, then the name deserves to disappear.”
The vote passed six to three.
All historical records would be released to investigators.
After the meeting, Emma was waiting outside.
“You did it?”
“Yes.”
“What happens now?”
May you like
Adrian looked at the closed boardroom doors.
“Now people who spent twenty-four years feeling untouchable begin making mistakes.”
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