Chapter 8: Edmund’s Last Testimony
The board gathered that evening in the Thorne dining room.
Rose sat at one end of the table with Edmund’s letter, while Agatha took the chair at the other.
“You have no right to call this meeting,” Agatha said.
Martin placed the blue ledger before the directors.
“Three board members requested it.”
“I built this company.”
June Kemp set a small recorder on the table.
“Then you should not be afraid to hear the man who founded it.”
Agatha pointed at the machine.
“That can be manufactured.”
Dermot placed his appraisal book beside it.
“So can a copy of a tiara.
Fortunately, records reveal when both were made.”
He opened the book to a yellowed page.
“In 2001, Agatha brought me the original tiara and ordered an exact copy.
I noted Rose’s inscription because it had been added since my 1998 appraisal.”
Agatha looked at him.
“You never told Rose.”
“No.
You said the copy was for insurance purposes.”
“You accepted my payment.”
“For honest work.
You used it dishonestly.”
June pressed the button.
Edmund’s voice emerged through a hiss of static.
*Rose Mercer gave this family what my own bank would not—time.
If the loan is not repaid, the shares and dividends belong to her.
Agatha opposes this because she believes gratitude lowers us.
I believe ingratitude does.*
Rose bowed her head.
I held her hand.
The recording continued.
*The tiara is Rose’s collateral and her gift.
If it returns to this house without her consent, it has been taken from its rightful owner.*
Agatha stood.
“A sentimental old man does not overrule corporate law.”
A director named Mr.
Bell cleared his throat.
“The addendum was filed with the trust.”
Martin slid certified papers across the table.
“June kept the registration receipt.
The courthouse located the sealed copy this afternoon.”
Agatha turned on Martin.
“You told me his records were gone.”
“My father’s private records were damaged.
The court’s were not.”
She gripped the chair.
“If you recognize this claim, the company will lose millions.
Jobs will disappear.”
Rose looked up.
“I did not close the factory when your family owed me.
Why would I close it now?”
“Because you want revenge.”
“I want what Edmund promised and what you concealed.”
Agatha addressed the directors.
“Vote with her, and I will withdraw the Thorne credit guarantee tomorrow.”
Mr.
Bell hesitated.
Two directors exchanged worried looks.
For one terrible minute, nobody spoke.
Then Lydia entered carrying a laptop.
“The guarantee is not yours to withdraw,” she said.
“It belongs to the family trust, and the trust cannot act while a beneficiary claim is unresolved.”
Agatha’s face tightened.
“Who gave you access?”
“Arthur.”
Arthur came through the doorway behind her.
“I filed an emergency objection to my inheritance this afternoon,” he said.
“I will accept no controlling shares until Rose’s claim is settled.”
“You would surrender the company for her?”
“I would surrender stolen control.”
Mr.
Bell pushed back his chair.
“I move that Agatha be suspended as chair pending an independent audit.”
“I second it,” another director said.
Hands rose around the table.
Agatha looked at each one.
“Cowards.”
Martin counted.
“Six in favor.
One opposed.”
“You cannot remove me from my own company.”
“You are suspended effective now.”
Agatha reached for the blue ledger.
Harris, standing by the door, stepped forward.
“Do not touch it.”
She knocked a glass across the pages instead.
Water spread over the ink.
Dermot lifted the ledger clear while Lydia held up her phone.
“I recorded that too,” Lydia said.
Agatha’s shoulders dropped for the first time.
Martin’s phone chimed.
He read the message twice.
“The bank has confirmed the account in Eliza’s name was opened using false identification.
The transfer was authorized from Agatha’s private terminal.”
Rose stared across the table.
“You were going to take my money twice.”
Agatha sat down.
Martin turned to the directors.
“The preliminary total of diverted dividends, with interest, is two million four hundred and sixteen thousand dollars.”
I heard my mother whisper, “Oh, Edmund.”
Martin was not finished.
“There is another document in the bank file,” he said.
“Instructions to report Eliza for taking the entire amount immediately after the wedding.”
Arthur looked at his grandmother.
“You did not only want to stop us.”
Agatha met my eyes.
May you like
“No,” she said.
“I intended to make sure you could never come back.”
