Chapter 9 - THE MORNING AFTER
At six fifteen, Robert and Helen left the house.
At six forty, a judge signed a temporary order.
The children remained with me.
Robert was allowed supervised contact pending further review.
Helen received none.
At seven, the company board began receiving packets.
At eight, Robert’s access to Bennett Foods headquarters was disabled.
At eight thirty, the story leaked.
By nine, cameras were outside the gates.
HEIR TO BENNETT FORTUNE REMOVES HUSBAND FROM FAMILY COMPANY.
That headline appeared first.
The next was worse.
EXECUTIVE ACCUSED OF USING FAMILY TRUST TO FUND PRIVATE CUSTODY BATTLE.
Robert called twelve times.
I answered none.
Helen called from three different numbers.
I blocked all of them.
At ten, the board meeting began.
I entered the same conference room where my father once taught me how to read a balance sheet.
Twelve directors sat around the table.
Robert’s seat was empty.
Mara sat behind me.
Thomas Reed opened the session.
“Emergency motion to remove Robert Mercer as acting chief operating officer pending forensic review.”
A director named Charles frowned.
“Is removal necessary before the investigation is complete?”
I answered.
“Yes.”
He looked toward me.
“On what basis?”
I slid the custody filing across the table.
“He used company funds for personal litigation.”
Charles read the payment authorization.
His expression changed.
Another director spoke.
“Was this approved?”
“No.”
The forensic accountant passed out a second packet.
“There are at least twenty-three additional transactions requiring review.”
The room became silent.
Then the doors opened.
Robert entered.
Two security officers followed him.
“You started without me.”
Thomas stood.
“You are not authorized to be here.”
Robert looked at me.
“My wife invited me.”
“No.”
I did not move.
“I didn’t.”
He placed a folder on the table.
“Then perhaps the board should see this.”
Mara stood.
“What is it?”
Robert smiled for the first time that morning.
“A transfer agreement.”
He opened the folder.
My father’s signature appeared at the bottom.
I stared at it.
The document claimed Daniel Bennett had transferred controlling voting authority to Robert six months before his death.
If valid, everything changed.
Robert looked directly at me.
“You thought your father protected you.”
May you like
His smile widened.
“He protected the company.”
