Chapter 16 - The Boardroom Vote
Vale Hart’s emergency board meeting began at eight the next morning.
Victor Sloane attended by video.
He claimed he represented a group of creditors concerned about Leah’s leadership.
His face appeared on the large screen at the end of the table, calm and polished.
“The company is facing a credibility crisis,” he said. “Ms. Hartwell’s sister has apparently leaked confidential information.”
“Chloe Hartwell has not been found responsible,” Leah replied.
“The public will not wait for your private investigation.”
Sloane proposed an interim restructuring.
Leah would step aside.
The creditor group would appoint a temporary chief executive.
Sloane would oversee negotiations.
It was the same strategy Ryan had attempted through marriage: create a crisis, declare Leah unable to manage it, and take control while pretending to help.
Before the directors voted, Leah distributed the Meridian records.
Several members stared at Sloane’s signature beside years of hidden transfers.
He did not react.
“Unverified documents,” he said.
“The records facility verified them this morning.”
“Possession does not prove wrongdoing.”
“No,” Leah answered. “But your decision to purchase our supplier debt through the same shell companies may.”
For the first time, his expression shifted.
Sloane ended the video connection.
The vote to remove Leah failed.
But three directors supported it.
One of them was Vale Hart’s chief financial officer, Martin Keene.
Keene had worked for the Hartwells for twenty-two years.
When Daniel checked the overnight access records, he found Keene’s credentials had opened Chloe’s office.
By the time security reached his home, Keene was gone.
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On his desk was a one-way ticket to Switzerland.
The flight had departed forty minutes earlier.
