Chapter 13 - The Day Henry Came for the Firm
The following morning, Olivia ended the deception.
She emailed Henry.
I will not guarantee the loan.
His reply arrived in under a minute.
You will regret this.
At noon, two vendors called asking whether Reed Avery was relocating.
At one, an anonymous complaint appeared online accusing the firm of financial instability.
At two, a client forwarded Olivia an email claiming her building lease was being terminated.
At 2:30, Margaret called three senior associates privately and suggested Olivia was experiencing "personal stress."
At three, Henry arrived.
Exactly as Olivia expected.
What she did not expect was the file.
He stormed through reception and entered her conference room.
Associates gathered nearby.
Clients watched.
Margaret followed.
Henry slammed the file onto Olivia's desk.
"Make me director right now! Or I'll shut down this lousy firm!"
Then he grabbed Olivia by the collar.
Several employees moved forward.
Olivia raised her hand.
"Take your hand off me."
He released her.
Margaret laughed.
"You'd be nothing without this family!"
Henry held up his phone.
"I'm calling Malcolm."
Olivia slid the conference phone toward him.
"Make the call."
Henry did.
Malcolm answered.
Henry demanded that Olivia be removed.
Malcolm let him speak.
Then calmly said:
"Olivia didn't specify this building."
Henry smiled briefly.
Until Malcolm explained.
Olivia's holding company owned the beneficial interest.
Henry stared.
"You didn't."
Malcolm replied:
"Her holding company did."
The room fell silent.
Then Malcolm added:
"And Henry? You should ask your daughter what else that company owns."
Henry slowly turned toward Olivia.
She opened a folder.
Not the one he had brought.
Her own.
"Sit down."
Henry did not.
"What did you do?"
"I activated the conversion instrument at 8:42 this morning."
His face changed.
Margaret whispered:
"What instrument?"
Olivia looked at her mother.
"The one Charles Reed created after Henry repeatedly violated his financial agreements."
Henry slammed both hands onto the table.
"That document is invalid."
"No."
"Mercer fabricated it."
"Independent counsel verified it."
"You have no idea what you're doing."
"I know exactly what I'm doing."
Henry pointed at her.
"You think this means you own my companies?"
"No."
Olivia's voice remained calm.
"It means I control the debt secured against them."
Margaret's face drained.
Henry stared.
"And the house," Olivia added.
Margaret turned on him.
"The house?"
Henry said nothing.
Margaret grabbed his arm.
"You pledged our house?"
He jerked away.
"It's temporary."
"You told me the property was protected!"
Olivia watched them.
A lifetime of partnership cracked in one sentence.
Henry turned back to Olivia.
"You wouldn't."
"Wouldn't what?"
"Take your mother's home."
Olivia's expression hardened.
"I haven't taken anything."
"Yet."
"Correct."
Henry looked suddenly desperate.
"If you freeze those accounts, you'll destroy everything."
"Then tell me why you need twelve million dollars."
"No."
"Tell me who Edward Vale is."
Henry froze.
Margaret's eyes widened.
Olivia noticed.
"You know him too."
Margaret whispered:
"Where did you hear that name?"
"He's been meeting Henry."
Margaret turned toward her husband.
"You said Edward was dead."
Now Olivia froze.
Henry whispered:
"Shut up."
Margaret backed away.
"You told me he died."
"Margaret."
"You said both brothers were dead."
Olivia's heart pounded.
"Both?"
Margaret covered her mouth.
She had said too much.
Henry lunged for the file on Olivia's desk.
Julian intercepted him.
Two building security officers entered.
Henry struggled.
"Get away from me!"
Olivia remained standing.
"Tell me what Edward has."
Henry stopped fighting.
For several seconds his face revealed something Olivia had never seen.
Not rage.
Terror.
Then he whispered:
"Proof."
"Of what?"
Henry looked at her.
"That Thomas Avery wasn't your father."
Olivia stared.
Henry smiled weakly.
Finally, he had hurt her.
Or believed he had.
Margaret began crying.
Olivia turned toward her.
"Is that true?"
Margaret could not answer.
Henry laughed.
"You wanted secrets?"
Security pulled him toward the door.
"Go find Edward."
His laughter followed him into reception.
"Ask him who your mother was sleeping with!"
The elevator doors closed behind Henry.
Inside the conference room, nobody spoke.
Then Olivia's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
Edward Vale's voice said:
"Your father is getting careless."
Olivia stared at the skyline.
"Which father?"
Edward laughed quietly.
"Good."
"Where are you?"
"I'll tell you when you're alone."
"You've been watching me."
"For longer than you know."
"Why?"
"Because Charles stole something from me."
"What?"
May you like
Edward's voice hardened.
"You."
