Chapter 7: The Price of Lauren’s Victory
No one spoke until the recording ended.
Board counsel held out his hand.
“Grant, surrender your laptop.”
“I will do no such thing.”
“Then security will preserve it.”
Grant grabbed his briefcase, but Daniel blocked the door.
“You wanted the vote,” Daniel said.
“Stay for the result.”
Lauren lifted her chin on the screen.
“A child’s recording can be edited.”
Emma’s voice trembled.
“I didn’t edit anything.”
“You recorded a private conversation because your grandmother turned you against me.”
“I didn’t even know Grandma was coming.”
Michael held Emma closer.
“Stop blaming her.”
Lauren pointed at him.
“I saved you from bankruptcy.”
“You used company money to buy that yacht.”
“I gave you the life you wanted.”
“No.
You gave yourself the life you wanted and taught me to apologize for it.”
The secretary placed a new motion on the table.
“Motion one: suspend the sale to Vale Capital.”
All nine hands rose.
“Motion two: revoke Grant Keller’s authority as chief financial officer pending an independent investigation.”
Eight hands rose.
Grant kept his down.
“You cannot do this,” he said.
“Without me, the banks will freeze your credit line.”
Daniel opened another file.
“The bank was notified twenty minutes ago.
It has already approved temporary oversight.”
Grant turned toward Lauren’s image.
“You said Michael would keep them distracted.”
Lauren’s mouth opened.
Michael stared at her.
“So this was planned before last night.”
“She’s twisting everything,” Lauren said.
“Margaret has wanted me gone since our wedding.”
“I welcomed you into my home,” I said.
“You made me sign a marriage agreement.”
“Because you asked Michael for control of his shares three weeks after meeting him.”
Lauren leaned toward the camera.
“Withdraw the investigation, and I’ll transfer the proxy back.”
“It no longer belongs to you,” Michael said.
He held the proxy in front of the camera and tore it from top to bottom.
“You can’t revoke it,” Lauren shouted.
“It says irrevocable.”
Board counsel answered her.
“A proxy obtained through material deception can be challenged immediately.
Michael’s recorded objection is now part of the official record.”
Grant rushed toward the door.
Two security officers entered before he reached it.
“I’m leaving,” he said.
“You are,” I replied.
“Your access card, company phone, and laptop stay here.”
He placed the phone on the table but held the laptop against his chest.
Daniel pointed to the ceiling camera.
“That computer is company property, Grant.”
Grant looked around the room.
No one moved to support him.
His fingers loosened.
“You’ll regret choosing sentiment over profit,” he said as he surrendered it.
The officers escorted him out.
Lauren laughed once, sharp and bitter.
“You think Grant was the only one who lied?”
Michael picked up his phone.
“The captain is docking.
We’ll discuss this face-to-face.”
“No, Michael.
Ask your mother first.”
“Ask her what?”
Lauren looked directly at me.
“Ask Margaret what she signed the night your father d!ed,” she said.
“Ask her why he never trusted you with control of your own inheritance.”
May you like
Michael’s hand lowered.
“Mom,” he said, “what is she talking about?”
