Chapter 11 - THE BOARDROOM COUP
At 9:00 the next morning, Richard Vale entered the Carrington Global boardroom like a king arriving for his coronation.
Thomas Reed sat beside him.
Eleven directors filled the room.
Reporters crowded the lobby downstairs.
Evelyn arrived alone.
Richard smiled.
"Where's your brother?"
"Gone."
"And Adrian?"
"Gone."
Richard leaned back.
"Finally learning."
Evelyn took her seat.
Thomas began the meeting.
He presented documents questioning Evelyn's judgment.
He cited the canceled wedding.
Market losses.
Public instability.
Then he proposed Richard Vale as interim executive chairman.
The vote began.
One director supported Evelyn.
Then another.
Richard received seven votes.
Evelyn received four.
Thomas smiled.
"The motion passes."
Richard stood.
"Effective immediately, Evelyn Carrington is removed from executive authority."
Evelyn remained seated.
"Are you finished?"
Richard looked amused.
"You no longer have authority to speak."
"Actually, I do."
The boardroom doors opened.
Noah entered.
Behind him was Martin.
Then Adrian.
Then Margaret.
Richard's face changed.
For the first time, true fear appeared.
"Margaret."
She looked at him.
"Hello, Richard."
Thomas stood.
"This meeting is private."
Federal agents entered behind them.
"So is financial fraud," one agent said.
Richard remained remarkably calm.
"You have no jurisdiction to interrupt a corporate vote."
Evelyn placed Charles's hidden trust document on the table.
"But I do."
Thomas read it.
His face collapsed.
The eleven-percent voting block changed everything.
Richard no longer controlled the majority.
Evelyn looked at the directors.
"I request an immediate revote."
Richard slammed his hand onto the table.
"This document is fraudulent."
Martin stepped forward.
"I notarized it."
Richard stared at him.
"You?"
"Charles knew you'd come."
The revote began.
This time Evelyn won.
Eight to three.
Thomas Reed was immediately suspended.
Richard was removed from all merger negotiations.
Then federal agents approached Thomas.
He broke first.
"I didn't kill Charles."
Richard turned toward him.
"Shut up."
Thomas looked terrified.
"I moved money."
"Thomas."
"I forged authorizations."
"Stop talking."
"But I didn't kill him!"
The room exploded into whispers.
Evelyn stood.
"Then who did?"
Thomas pointed at Richard.
"He ordered the medication switch."
Richard lunged across the table.
Agents grabbed him.
Thomas shouted.
"He said Charles only needed to become weak enough to force him out!"
Richard struggled.
"You're lying!"
Thomas looked at Evelyn.
"But something went wrong that night."
"What?"
"Richard didn't plan to kill him."
Evelyn's stomach dropped.
"Then who did?"
Thomas looked toward Margaret.
Margaret went pale.
"I think Charles was killed by someone Richard never knew was in the office."
Evelyn stared at him.
"Who?"
May you like
Thomas swallowed.
"Martin Shaw."
