Chapter 6 - The Boardroom
At 9:03 the next morning, Richard Cole entered the boardroom believing he still controlled the company.
At 9:07, Claire walked in.
Vanessa was sitting beside her father.
Her face changed instantly.
“You.”
Claire pulled out a chair.
“Good morning.”
Richard stood.
“This is a private board meeting.”
Rachel entered behind Claire.
“Not anymore.”
Daniel came last.
Richard’s confidence faltered.
“Daniel.”
Daniel didn’t shake his hand.
“Richard.”
Vanessa looked at Claire.
“What are you doing here?”
Claire placed the ownership documents on the table.
“Exercising my voting rights.”
Richard stared at the paperwork.
For the first time, Claire saw fear in his eyes.
“Where did you get those?”
“My father.”
“That’s impossible.”
Daniel sat.
“No.”
“It isn’t.”
The board members began reading.
Whispers spread around the table.
Richard’s face reddened.
“Thomas stole those shares.”
Rachel answered calmly.
“Then I assume you have documentation supporting that allegation.”
Richard said nothing.
Claire looked directly at him.
“My father left records.”
Richard’s eyes sharpened.
“What records?”
Vanessa interrupted.
“Dad, don’t answer her.”
Claire looked at Vanessa.
“You seemed much more confident when you had a glass in your hand.”
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
Daniel almost smiled.
Richard slammed his palm against the table.
“This meeting is over.”
“No,” Claire said.
“It’s finally beginning.”
Rachel distributed copies of selected financial records.
Board members started reading.
One man whispered, “Jesus.”
Another looked at Richard.
“What is North Harbor Consulting?”
Richard’s face changed.
Claire remembered the name from her father’s ledger.
A shell company.
Daniel leaned back.
“I’d like the answer too.”
Richard looked around the room.
“You’re all making a mistake.”
Then the boardroom doors opened.
Two investigators entered with three uniformed officers.
Richard went completely still.
Claire looked at Rachel.
Rachel whispered, “The recording was enough for them to start asking questions.”
One investigator approached Richard.
“Mr. Cole, we need to speak with you.”
Vanessa stood.
“You can’t just come in here.”
The investigator looked at her.
“Ms. Cole, we’ll need to speak with you as well.”
Vanessa looked at Claire.
Pure hatred filled her eyes.
“This is because of you.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
May you like
“This is because of what your family did.”
And for the first time, Vanessa had no answer.
