Chapter 7 - The Board’s Ultimatum
The Vale Meridian boardroom occupied the top floor of a glass tower overlooking the city.
Ethan entered alone.
Vivian sat at the opposite end of the table. Malcolm Cross was beside her, arranging a stack of documents.
Seven board members avoided Ethan’s eyes.
A screen on the wall displayed a photograph of Elena leaving First Union Bank with Nathaniel Brooks.
Malcolm began without greeting him.
“We have reason to believe your wife conspired with Nathaniel to access restricted family-trust materials.”
“She is a beneficiary.”
“The child is the beneficiary,” Malcolm corrected. “Elena has no current authority.”
“She has the right to protect her own medical information.”
Vivian folded her hands.
“This meeting is about your ability to separate personal emotion from corporate responsibility.”
“You forged Elena’s medical authorization.”
Vivian sighed.
“This is exactly the instability we feared.”
Ethan placed a copy of the false authorization on the table.
“My wife never signed this.”
Malcolm examined it briefly.
“A serious accusation.”
“It’s not an accusation. We have samples of her real signature.”
“We will investigate.”
“You approved the document.”
Malcolm smiled faintly.
“My office processes thousands of pages.”
Ethan looked around the table.
“Why does my father’s trust give my child control of the company?”
Several board members shifted in their seats.
Vivian’s expression remained unreadable.
Malcolm said, “That provision is confidential.”
“I’m the child’s father.”
“You are also a corporate officer with a potential conflict of interest.”
Ethan laughed once.
“My own daughter is a conflict of interest?”
“Your wife may be using the pregnancy to influence company ownership.”
Ethan leaned forward.
“She didn’t know about the trust until yesterday.”
“That is not what Nathaniel claims.”
“Nathaniel is in custody because evidence was planted in his house.”
Malcolm closed the folder.
“This emotional response demonstrates why temporary leadership changes are necessary.”
A resolution appeared on the screen.
Ethan Vale would be suspended as chief executive pending an investigation.
Vivian would serve as interim chair.
Malcolm would assume control of legal operations.
The resolution passed six votes to two.
Ethan did not react.
Vivian watched him carefully.
“You seem calm,” she said.
“I expected this.”
Malcolm’s confidence weakened slightly.
Ethan removed his company access card and placed it on the table.
“You can have the office.”
He looked directly at Vivian.
“But you cannot have my wife.”
Vivian’s eyes became cold.
“If Elena is unwell, the court may decide where she receives treatment.”
“Then the court will see the forged documents.”
Malcolm stood.
“You should be careful. Defamation could further damage your position.”
Ethan turned toward the door.
“Ask your technology department why someone used your private server to access deposit box 617.”
Malcolm froze.
Ethan saw it.
A single moment of fear.
It was enough.
He left the boardroom.
In the elevator, his phone displayed twelve missed calls from Elena.
He called immediately.
A man answered.
“Mr. Vale?”
“Who is this?”
“Officer Daniel Reeves. Your wife was involved in a vehicle incident.”
Ethan’s blood turned cold.
“Is she hurt?”
“She appears stable, but an ambulance is taking her to Saint Matthew’s Hospital.”
“Do not take her there.”
“It is the nearest approved facility.”
“I said do not take her there.”
“The attending physician has already authorized the destination.”
“Which physician?”
The officer checked.
“Dr. Marcus Bell.”
Ethan ran from the elevator before the doors had fully opened.
At the estate, Elena’s car had been struck from behind while stopped at a gate.
The impact was not severe, but the driver of the other vehicle insisted she needed emergency care. Before Elena could contact Ethan, paramedics arrived with her full medical file already prepared.
Dr. Bell’s authorization was attached.
Elena refused transport.
Then she felt a sharp pain across her abdomen.
Fear overruled suspicion.
She entered the ambulance.
As the doors closed, she called Miriam’s emergency number.
Nora Grant answered.
“Elena Vale?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you?”
“An ambulance. They’re taking me to Saint Matthew’s.”
“Who authorized it?”
“Dr. Bell.”
Nora’s voice became urgent.
“Listen carefully. When you arrive, do not sign anything. Do not accept medication unless two nurses verify it. I’m contacting security.”
The ambulance turned sharply.
Elena looked through the rear window.
They were not heading toward Saint Matthew’s main entrance.
May you like
They were traveling east.
Toward the old road leading to Saint Orla House.
