Chapter 7 - THE EMERGENCY BOARD MEETINGFive board members entered the house, followed by the company’s chief financial officer and two representatives from the bank.
Wesley stared at them.
“You called a board meeting here?”
Eleanor returned to her chair.
“This is my home, and I am the controlling shareholder. Yes.”
The members took their places around the table.
Most had known Eleanor for decades. Some had attended Wesley’s banquet the previous evening.
Now none of them would meet his eyes.
Claire distributed copies of the forged transfer agreement, the loan records and the false medical statement.
Wesley remained standing.
“This is a family dispute. It has nothing to do with the board.”
The chief financial officer, Daniel Price, looked at him.
“You used company properties to secure personal loans.”
“For company development.”
“The funds were transferred through your consulting business.”
“That was temporary.”
“Four hundred thousand dollars paid for the renovation of your house.”
Serena looked at Wesley.
“You said the company owed you that money.”
Wesley ignored her.
Daniel continued.
“Another two hundred thousand paid balances on personal credit cards. Ninety thousand went to luxury travel.”
“They were business trips.”
“One charge was for a villa in Greece during your anniversary.”
“We met with investors.”
“Name them.”
Wesley said nothing.
One board member, Ruth Delgado, removed her glasses.
“I defended you last night.”
Wesley turned toward her.
“Ruth—”
“You stood in front of sixty people and said Eleanor had voluntarily retired because she no longer had the energy to lead.”
“I was protecting her privacy.”
“She was standing outside the dining-room door.”
Wesley looked at his mother.
“You told them?”
“I did not need to. Several guests saw me leave.”
The bank representative explained that the pending loan against Hawthorne Hill had been frozen. The six existing loans would undergo fraud review.
Then Claire presented the resolution.
“Effective immediately, Wesley Vale is removed from all executive and fiduciary positions at Vale Heritage Group. His access to company offices, accounts, records and properties is revoked.”
Wesley laughed bitterly.
“You cannot erase me from my own family.”
Eleanor signed the resolution.
“I am removing you from a position you abused. What remains of the family will depend on what you do next.”
The board voted.
Five hands rose in favor.
None opposed.
Wesley’s phone vibrated.
His corporate access had been disabled.
A second message arrived confirming that his company email account had been suspended.
A third informed him that the security code to the executive garage was no longer valid.
Serena sat down.
“What happens to us now?”
Eleanor answered without cruelty.
“You live within your own means.”
“We don’t have enough liquid money to cover everything.”
“You own jewelry, vehicles and a vacation property.”
Serena looked horrified.
“You expect us to sell them?”
“Yes.”
Wesley leaned toward Eleanor.
“What about the criminal investigation?”
“The board is legally required to report the fraudulent documents.”
“You could stop it.”
“No.”
“Dad would never do this to me.”
At the mention of Henry, Eleanor looked toward the portrait again.
“You are right.”
Hope flickered across Wesley’s face.
“Your father would have forgiven you before you asked,” Eleanor continued. “He would have paid your debts, hidden the evidence and blamed himself.”
She looked back at Wesley.
“And that is how we taught you that love meant protection from consequences.”
Wesley’s shoulders dropped.
“For that failure, I am responsible.”
He swallowed.
“So this is revenge?”
“No. Revenge would be taking pleasure in your fear.”
“Don’t you?”
Eleanor considered the question.
“No. I take no pleasure in discovering that my son was willing to declare me incompetent and risk my home.”
May you like
Her voice softened.
“But I will not rescue you from it.”
