Chapter 10 - THE VOTE
Charlotte called her neighbor.
No answer.
She called again.
Finally, Mrs. Kaplan picked up.
“Charlotte?”
“My apartment.”
“What about it?”
“Is my door open?”
A pause.
Then footsteps.
“Oh.”
Charlotte’s heart pounded.
“What?”
“It looks like somebody forced it.”
“Don’t go inside.”
“Already did.”
“Mrs. Kaplan!”
“Relax. I’m seventy-three, not helpless.”
Charlotte closed her eyes.
“Is anyone there?”
“No. But your place is a mess.”
The threat was clear.
Margaret wasn’t just protecting money.
She was trying to scare Charlotte out of New York.
It worked.
For about ten seconds.
Then Charlotte got angry.
By eight in the morning, Sebastian was awake.
By nine, Margaret had filed an emergency petition questioning his mental competence.
By ten, the Valle Hotels board had called a special meeting.
Charlotte stared at Daniel.
“She did what?”
“If Sebastian is declared temporarily incapable, executive control passes to the board.”
“And Margaret controls the board.”
“Five of nine members.”
Charlotte laughed.
“She moves fast.”
“She’s had years to prepare.”
Detective Ruiz took the cassette as evidence.
But the recording alone wasn’t enough.
Threatening Olivia twenty-five years ago didn’t prove modern financial fraud.
Or attempted murder.
Or the hotel attack.
Charlotte needed the missing pages from the notebook.
At 10:30, she entered the boardroom.
Margaret was already seated.
Perfect hair.
Perfect suit.
Perfect smile.
“You look tired.”
Charlotte sat across from her.
“You look guilty.”
Margaret smiled wider.
“Cute.”
The board attorney stood.
“This meeting concerns temporary executive authority.”
Margaret folded her hands.
“Sebastian is eighty-one. He suffered a medical emergency after making an impulsive announcement involving someone he hadn’t seen in twenty-four years.”
Charlotte stared at her.
“Say my name.”
Margaret ignored her.
“She may be his biological granddaughter. That does not make her qualified.”
One director looked at Charlotte.
“Are you asking for control of the company?”
“No.”
Margaret blinked.
Charlotte continued.
“I don’t want his company.”
Another director leaned forward.
“Then why are you here?”
“Because somebody stole millions from his foundation.”
Silence.
Margaret laughed.
“Based on what?”
“My mother’s investigation.”
“Your mother is dead.”
Charlotte’s face hardened.
“So are a lot of witnesses. Convenient, isn’t it?”
Margaret stood.
“That is enough.”
“No. We’re just starting.”
The boardroom doors opened.
A young security officer entered.
He whispered something to Daniel.
Daniel’s face changed.
“What?”
The officer handed him a parking receipt.
Daniel looked at Charlotte.
“We found the man who stole your notebook.”
Charlotte stood.
“Where?”
“Security camera caught him entering the underground garage twenty minutes ago.”
Margaret’s smile vanished.
Daniel continued.
May you like
“And he’s carrying an envelope addressed to Margaret Wren.”
Charlotte was already running.
