Chapter 4: The Empty Chair
The boardroom was full when we arrived.
Vivian took the chair at the head of the table as if it had always belonged to her.
“Security should not have admitted them,” she said.
An older director stood.
“Peter Caldwell requested this meeting under the founder’s emergency provision.”
“I am acting chair,” Vivian replied.
“Sit down, Arthur.”
Dad remained by the door.
“That chair belonged to Edmund.”
“And now it belongs to the board.”
“No,” Peter said.
“According to the original agreement, it belongs to the majority shareholder.”
He placed the yellowed document on the table.
Vivian’s company lawyer, Graham Pike, barely glanced at it.
“We have a later transfer signed by Mr.
Henderson.”
He slid a clean white document across the polished surface.
Dad looked at the signature and shook his head.
“That isn’t mine.”
Graham leaned back.
“It was notarized.”
“By whom?” I asked.
“Marjorie Bell.”
Peter’s face changed.
“Marjorie retired before the date on this document.”
Vivian struck the table with her palm.
“Enough.
We will vote on whether these people have any standing here.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Before you vote, I want my mother to answer one question.”
Vivian glared at her.
“Go home.”
“Did you know Daniel Henderson helped Grandfather build this company?”
“I knew he worked in the garage.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“You are emotional because your wedding was disrupted.”
“My wedding ended because I laughed when I should have defended someone.”
The room went still.
Claire turned to Dad.
“Mr.
Henderson, I am sorry.”
Dad gave a small nod.
“An apology matters when the next choice is different.”
Vivian lifted her hand.
“All in favor of rejecting Mr.
Henderson’s claim?”
Four hands rose.
Then a fifth.
Arthur looked down before raising his own.
Graham counted them.
“The motion passes.”
Vivian smiled at Dad.
“There.
Your performance is over.”
Two security officers entered.
I moved toward them, but Dad touched my arm.
“Not here, son.”
Claire caught my hand.
“Please don’t leave me with her.”
I pulled away.
“You already chose her once today.”
Her face crumpled.
“I made a cruel mistake.”
“You laughed.”
“I know.”
“You looked at the man who raised me and laughed.”
Claire’s voice broke.
“Then maybe you never knew me at all.”
The words landed harder than I expected.
I reached for the back of a chair because my legs suddenly felt unsteady.
Dad stepped beside me.
“That is enough.”
Claire wiped her cheek.
“No, Mr.
Henderson.
He has the right to say it.”
A young woman appeared in the doorway.
She still wore the pale blue dress of Claire’s bridesmaids.
“Claire,” she said, holding up a phone.
“You need to hear this.”
Vivian stood.
“Anna, this is a private meeting.”
Anna walked past her.
“You told me to keep Claire away from the west corridor before the ceremony.
I thought you were arranging a surprise.”
She touched the screen, and Vivian’s recorded voice filled the room.
“Make sure Daniel Henderson hears me insult him.
His pride will do the rest.
Once he leaves, Graham can file the final papers before midnight.”
Nobody moved.
Graham closed his briefcase.
Vivian pointed at Anna.
“That recording is illegal.”
“I recorded the wedding preparations for Claire,” Anna replied.
“You walked into the room and started talking.”
Dad faced Vivian.
“What final papers?”
Vivian’s smile had disappeared.
“It proves nothing.”
Peter picked up the white transfer document.
“It proves you expected Daniel to leave before something was filed.”
Arthur pushed back his chair.
“I withdraw my vote.”
“So do I,” another director said.
Graham whispered into Vivian’s ear.
She listened, then looked directly at Dad.
“You should check the loan registered against your house,” she said.
“If you challenge me, Daniel, you will lose the only home your wife ever loved.”
Dad’s hand closed around his cap.
May you like
I stared at him.
“Dad, what loan?”
