Chapter 12 - THE BOARDROOM
At 9:00 the next morning, Sterling Capital's emergency board meeting began in Manhattan.
Avery almost didn't attend.
Then she remembered every time Victoria had told her she didn't belong.
So she went.
She wore a simple navy dress.
No diamonds.
No stylist.
No attempt to look like a Sterling.
Leo remained at the estate with his nanny and two security officers Liam personally selected.
When Avery entered the boardroom, conversation stopped.
Richard sat at the head of the table.
Victoria sat behind him.
Liam took the chair beside Avery.
Thomas entered last.
Richard looked at him.
“You aren't a director.”
“No.”
Thomas placed a proxy document on the table.
“But I'm still a shareholder.”
The general counsel opened the meeting.
Evidence was presented.
The altered laboratory report.
Payments.
Emails.
Instructions.
Then came the message that destroyed Richard's defense.
An email from his private account.
MAKE THE PATERNITY RESULT AMBIGUOUS.
DO NOT COMPLETELY EXCLUDE LIAM.
WE NEED ENOUGH DOUBT TO DELAY THE TRUST TRANSFER.
Richard stared straight ahead.
Nobody defended him.
The vote was called.
Nine directors.
Seven voted for immediate removal.
One abstained.
Richard voted against.
It didn't matter.
For the first time in twenty-two years, Richard Sterling was no longer chairman.
He stood.
“This company will regret this.”
Avery watched him leave.
Victoria followed.
At the door, she stopped.
She looked at Liam.
Then at Avery.
Then she left without speaking.
The board elected an interim chair.
The trust administrator certified Leo's inheritance that afternoon.
But Avery surprised everyone.
She requested that the shares be placed into an independent fiduciary structure.
Liam looked at her.
“You don't want to control them?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Leo shouldn't grow up with his mother and father fighting over billions.”
Thomas smiled.
“Daniel would've liked you.”
Avery looked at him.
“I wish I could've met him.”
“So do I.”
After the meeting, Liam and Thomas stood alone near the window.
Avery gave them space.
Thomas finally spoke.
“I have something for you.”
He handed Liam a small photograph.
Daniel held baby Liam in his arms.
Thomas stood beside them.
All three were smiling.
Liam stared at it.
“When was this?”
“Three days before Daniel died.”
Liam looked up.
“You saw him after the fight?”
Thomas nodded.
“We made peace.”
“Why didn't my mother tell me?”
“Maybe because she never made peace with herself.”
Liam looked toward the door Victoria had walked through.
For the first time, Avery wondered whether Victoria's cruelty had always been about Avery.
Maybe Avery represented something Victoria could not tolerate.
A woman marrying into the Sterling family without surrendering herself.
A woman refusing to live by fear.
A woman loved openly by the man she married.
Everything Victoria had once failed to protect in herself.
It didn't excuse her.
But it explained something.
Avery's phone rang.
The nanny.
She answered immediately.
“Is Leo okay?”
A pause.
Then Avery's face changed.
Liam stood.
“What happened?”
Avery lowered the phone.
“Your mother is at the estate.”
Liam frowned.
“So?”
May you like
Avery stared at him.
“She took Leo.”
