Chapter 14 - THE SECOND FOLDER
The meeting began at eleven.
Vanessa arrived in cream silk.
Nolan wore a navy suit.
Julian Voss came last, smiling as though everyone had gathered for lunch.
Ethan used his wheelchair.
Vanessa’s gaze dropped to it.
He saw the satisfaction before she hid it.
Recovery wasn’t a straight line.
Apparently, she still needed it to be.
Lydia placed her briefcase on the table.
Graybridge’s attorney began describing the proposal.
Ethan listened until the man called it “a mutually beneficial resolution.”
Then he spoke.
“Who benefits?”
Voss smiled.
“People who understand when a business needs fresh leadership.”
“You’re closing the warehouses.”
Vanessa turned toward him.
“What?”
Ethan slid the side agreement across the table.
Her name appeared beside the closure plan.
She glanced at Nolan.
He looked away.
“You said that was a restructuring estimate,” she whispered.
Nolan’s voice hardened.
“Don’t do this here.”
Voss leaned back.
“The economics are straightforward.”
“So were the jobs,” Ethan said. “People worked. We paid them. They went home.”
“You’re sentimental.”
“I’m informed.”
Lydia opened a second folder.
Bank records.
Ownership documents.
Their father’s correspondence.
The September repair receipt.
The October replacement invoice.
Copies, not originals.
Vanessa stared.
Ethan had brought the gala folder to frighten her into revealing the next move.
This one showed how far she had already gone.
Lydia explained that they had filed for emergency relief and provided the materials to investigators.
Graybridge’s attorney began reading.
Voss stopped smiling.
Nolan pushed his chair back.
“I’m done.”
Vanessa grabbed his sleeve.
“Did you touch his car?”
He pulled away.
“Watch your mouth.”
“Answer me.”
Nobody spoke.
Then Nolan said, “You wanted him out of the office.”
Vanessa went white.
Ethan felt Lydia’s hand touch his arm.
Stay still.
Let them talk.
Vanessa’s voice dropped.
“I said slow him down.”
Nolan looked at her.
“And you never asked how.”
Voss stood.
“This meeting is over.”
The attorney stayed seated.
“No,” he said. “I need to see the underlying documents.”
For the first time, someone on their side had stopped following Voss.
Then Ethan’s phone lit up.
Grace calling.
May you like
He answered.
Her first words were, “The company accounts are locked.”
