Chapter 9 - The Boardroom
Daniel spent the night trying to regain control.
He called every executive.
Every investor.
Every bank.
Every attorney.
Some answered.
Others didn't.
By midnight, three board members had requested copies of the injunction.
By two in the morning, one had resigned.
By four, Daniel stopped pretending he wasn't afraid.
Vanessa remained with him.
She sat across from his desk.
“What are we going to do?”
Daniel stared at the city.
“I have a plan.”
“What's the plan?”
“Board meeting.”
“And then?”
“I'll expose Emily.”
Vanessa frowned.
“For what?”
Daniel looked at her.
“She has been hiding assets.”
“Can you prove it?”
“I don't need to.”
Vanessa's confidence returned.
“You'll win.”
Daniel nodded.
But he wasn't convinced.
The next morning, the boardroom filled quickly.
Executives sat around the enormous table.
Screens displayed financial reports.
Daniel entered last.
He looked exhausted.
But he forced a smile.
“Thank you for coming.”
The chairman asked,
“What is happening?”
Daniel answered.
“A personal dispute has been weaponized against the company.”
Murmurs spread around the room.
Daniel continued.
“My wife is attempting to interfere with corporate operations.”
One director raised a hand.
“Under what authority?”
Daniel hesitated.
“She has none.”
The door opened.
Everyone turned.
Emily walked in.
Her hair was still uneven.
Her red dress was gone.
She wore a simple dark suit.
Mark walked beside her.
Eleanor followed.
Daniel stared.
“Who is that?”
Emily didn't answer.
Eleanor did.
“Someone your lawyers forgot existed.”
Daniel's face drained.
The chairman looked confused.
“Mrs. Carter, this meeting was called by Daniel.”
Emily sat down.
“Then let's hear him.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You have no right to be here.”
Emily looked at him.
“Actually, I do.”
He laughed.
“You're my wife.”
“No.”
She placed a document on the table.
“I am a beneficiary of the controlling structure.”
Daniel stared at the paper.
“What is this?”
Mark answered.
“The preliminary ownership schedule.”
Daniel looked around.
“This is fake.”
Eleanor shook her head.
“No.”
Daniel's voice rose.
“You don't understand this company.”
Eleanor replied calmly,
“I helped create it.”
Silence.
Daniel stared at her.
Then recognition appeared.
“You.”
Eleanor nodded.
“You remember.”
Daniel stepped backward.
“You were supposed to be gone.”
“I was.”
“Dead?”
“That's what the records said.”
Daniel looked at Emily.
“You knew?”
Emily shook her head.
“Not until yesterday.”
The chairman demanded,
“What is going on?”
Mark stood.
“This meeting cannot proceed under the current governance structure.”
Daniel slammed his hand on the table.
“You're trying to take my company!”
Eleanor corrected him.
“No.”
She looked at Emily.
“We are trying to stop you from taking hers.”
May you like
The room fell silent.
Then every screen in the boardroom turned black.
