Chapter 9 - THE BOARDROOM
At 5:00 p.m., Preston walked into the executive boardroom expecting a fight.
He found a funeral.
Not for a person.
For his career.
Arthur Whitmore sat at one end of the table.
Raymond sat at the other.
Twelve board members filled the remaining seats.
Margaret Hale stood beside a large screen.
Preston threw the removal notice onto the table.
“This is absurd.”
Nobody responded.
He looked at his father.
“Tell them.”
Arthur didn’t move.
“Dad.”
Arthur finally spoke.
“Sit down.”
Preston remained standing.
“This company carries our name.”
Raymond answered.
“So did the hallway where your wife was attacked.”
Preston looked at him.
“You’re making a corporate decision based on a domestic dispute.”
Margaret clicked the remote.
The first slide appeared.
UNAUTHORIZED MEDICAL RECORD ACCESS.
The second.
MISUSE OF CORPORATE FUNDS.
The third.
UNAUTHORIZED EXPENSES.
The fourth.
FAILURE TO DISCLOSE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
Then the fifth.
ATTEMPTED WITNESS INTIMIDATION.
Preston’s face changed.
“That nurse misunderstood me.”
Rachel’s written statement appeared.
Preston turned toward Arthur.
“You’re letting him do this?”
Arthur looked exhausted.
“You did this.”
“I’m your son.”
“Yes.”
Arthur’s voice cracked.
“And I spent too many years believing that meant I had to save you from consequences.”
Preston sat slowly.
Raymond folded his hands.
“Anything you’d like to say before the vote?”
Preston looked around the room.
People who had laughed at his jokes.
Attended his parties.
Accepted his invitations.
Nobody met his eyes.
Then Preston did what he had always done when charm failed.
He threatened.
“If you remove me, I’ll expose everything.”
Raymond raised an eyebrow.
“Everything?”
“The Saint Claire arrangements.”
Arthur stared at his son.
Preston continued.
“The debt structures.”
“Those are legal.”
“The political donations.”
“Public record.”
“The trust.”
Raymond’s expression changed slightly.
Preston saw it.
And smiled.
“There it is.”
Arthur whispered.
“Preston, stop.”
But Preston was desperate now.
“Emily doesn’t know everything, does she?”
Raymond’s eyes hardened.
Preston leaned back.
“She thinks her mother simply left her shares.”
Raymond said nothing.
“She doesn’t know why.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
Margaret looked toward Raymond.
The room had changed.
Preston smiled.
“For once, Uncle Raymond doesn’t have anything to say.”
Raymond stood.
“The vote will proceed.”
Preston laughed.
“Go ahead.”
The vote took less than three minutes.
Eleven in favor.
One abstention.
Zero opposed.
Preston Whitmore was removed as executive vice president.
His building access was revoked.
His corporate accounts were frozen pending investigation.
His company vehicle was recalled.
His expense privileges ended immediately.
Preston stared at the result.
Years of status disappeared in three minutes.
But he still had one weapon.
As security approached, Preston looked at Raymond.
“Tell Emily why her mother really created that trust.”
Raymond’s face went still.
May you like
Preston smiled.
“Or I will.”
