Chapter 8: The Last Vote
Arthur sank into Edmund’s chair.
“I can explain.”
Dad set the drive on the desk.
“Then explain.”
Arthur rubbed both hands over his face.
“Vivian told me the payments were temporary.
She said the company would collapse if the board saw the real accounts.”
Vivian stepped toward him.
“You signed willingly.”
“You threatened to cancel my pension.”
“You still signed.”
Claire looked at Arthur.
“Is that why you voted against Mr.
Henderson?”
Arthur nodded.
“Graham showed me the loan against Daniel’s house.
He said they would enforce it that night if I opposed them.”
Dad pulled out the chair beside him.
“Sit properly and tell the whole truth.”
Arthur straightened.
“Graham created the holding company.
Vivian approved payments into it.
I authorized three transfers because I was afraid.
When I tried to stop, they showed me papers carrying Claire’s signature.”
Claire’s voice trembled.
“Did you know I had been deceived?”
“Yes.”
She stepped back into my arms.
I held her while she cried, and Dad stood beside us with one hand on her shoulder.
“I should have warned you,” Arthur said.
“Yes,” Claire replied.
“You should have.”
The investigator collected the documents.
“Mr.
Pike, Mrs.
Vale, and Mr.
Barnes, you are not to remove, alter, or destroy any company property.”
Graham pointed at Vivian.
“She directed everything.”
Vivian turned on him.
“You prepared the false documents.”
“You paid me.”
“You kept millions for yourself!”
The investigator raised her voice.
“Both of you, stop.”
Peter placed the original agreement beside the ledger.
“The emergency order freezing Daniel’s claim was obtained using a transfer with an impossible witness date.”
“The court will be notified tonight,” the investigator said.
“Until then, nobody touches the company accounts.”
Vivian looked at Claire.
“You can still end this.
Say you signed knowingly.
The family trust will be yours.”
Claire released my hand and walked toward her mother.
“You laughed when I laughed,” Vivian said softly.
“You are not different from me.”
Claire swallowed.
“I was like you for one ugly moment.”
“Then protect me.”
“No.
I will spend the rest of my life making sure that moment does not become my character.”
Vivian’s face hardened.
“Without me, you will have nothing.”
Claire removed the necklace her mother had given her that morning and laid it beside the silver pin.
“I will have what I earn.”
Three directors entered the archive.
Peter called the emergency vote to order while the investigators watched.
“All in favor of removing Vivian Vale as acting chair?” he asked.
Every hand rose, including Arthur’s.
“All in favor of suspending Graham Pike as company counsel?”
Again, every hand rose.
Peter faced Dad.
“The founder’s agreement gives the majority owner temporary authority.
Do you accept?”
Dad shook his head.
“Not alone.
Appoint an independent manager until every account is examined.”
Arthur stared at him.
“After what we did, you still trust this board?”
“No,” Dad said.
“That is why none of you will control the review.”
The investigator’s phone rang.
She listened, then addressed Vivian and Graham.
“The judge has dissolved the emergency order.
The house loan is frozen pending examination, and the company accounts are secured.”
Graham sat down hard.
Vivian pointed at Dad.
“You think this makes you better than me?”
“No,” Dad said.
“The way I treat people does.”
The investigator asked Vivian and Graham to accompany her.
At the doorway, Vivian looked back at Claire.
“When he leaves you again, do not come to me.”
Claire’s fingers tightened around mine.
“I won’t,” she said.
“A mother should teach her child how to stand.
You only taught me whom never to become.”
The door closed behind Vivian.
Peter looked at the computer screen.
“The diverted money can be traced, but restoring the company will take months.”
Dad put his cap back on.
“Then we start in the morning.”
My phone rang before we could leave.
It was the wedding venue manager.
“Sir,” she said, “someone has taken the ring you left on the table.”
Claire looked at her bare hand.
Anna slowly lowered her phone.
Then Mr.
May you like
Lewis opened the archive door and held up a white satin pouch.
“I believe,” he said, “they took the wrong one.”
