Chapter 9 - THE BOARDROOM
Federal investigators froze several Carter Hospitality accounts that afternoon.
The company’s emergency board meeting was held the next morning.
My father expected me to stay away.
I arrived with Marcus and Detective Brooks.
Preston sat at the far end of the long table.
His lawyer whispered beside him.
My mother occupied the chair to his right.
She looked at the bandage near my hairline where Preston had accidentally grazed me while striking Sophie.
Her eyes showed no concern.
My father called the meeting to order.
He announced that I was attempting to destroy the company out of personal resentment.
Then he proposed removing me from the board.
Before anyone could vote, Marcus placed Grandmother’s ledgers on the table.
The room became silent.
“These records document twenty-eight million dollars in concealed losses,” Marcus said.
“They also show unauthorized attempts to pledge trust property belonging to a minor.”
My father’s face drained of color.
Preston leaned back.
“Those documents are fake.”
“Then you will have no objection to a forensic audit.”
The independent directors began asking questions.
Henry Whitmore demanded that the merger be delayed.
Camille sat beside her father wearing dark glasses.
She had not visited Sophie.
She had not apologized.
Instead, she spoke for the first time.
“Evelyn threatened Preston before the accident.”
I stared at her.
“What accident?”
“The board slipped.”
“You watched him raise it.”
Camille removed her glasses.
A bruise covered one side of her face.
Preston’s eyes snapped toward her.
No one spoke.
Camille quickly turned away.
My mother interrupted.
“This meeting is about the company.”
“No,” I said.
“This meeting is about the people you sacrificed to protect Preston.”
I requested an immediate vote to suspend both Preston and my father pending investigation.
Three directors supported me.
Two opposed.
The final vote belonged to Henry Whitmore.
He looked at Preston.
Then at Camille’s bruise.
“I vote to suspend them.”
My father’s control of the company ended with one sentence.
Preston jumped from his chair.
“You think you won?”
Security moved toward him.
He pointed at me.
“You have no idea what she did.”
“What are you talking about?”
He smiled coldly.
“Ask Evelyn why Sophie’s father disappeared.”
The room went still.
May you like
My daughter’s father had died seven years earlier.
At least, that was what I had been told.
