Chapter 7 - THE BOARDROOM SEAT
The Cardenas Heritage board met at nine o’clock.
Veronica occupied the chair at the head of the table.
Teresa entered with Arthur and an independent auditor.
Several directors looked uncomfortable.
One openly smirked.
Veronica tapped a pen against the table.
“Employees do not attend board meetings.”
Teresa placed the trust certificate before her.
“Controlling shareholders do.”
Arthur explained that Teresa now held fifty-one percent of the voting power.
Veronica’s temporary chairmanship could be ended by a simple beneficiary decision.
Teresa did not remove her immediately.
“I want the audit report first.”
Veronica leaned back.
“You think patience makes you look powerful?”
“No.”
“I think decisions should follow evidence.”
The auditor presented the initial findings.
Millions had been transferred from pension and medical-benefit funds.
A planned sale of three distribution centers would move the properties into a private company controlled by Harrison Avery.
The sale price was less than half the market value.
Veronica had scheduled the final signature for that afternoon.
Teresa froze the transaction.
Rafael objected.
“The company needs liquidity.”
“The company has liquidity,” the auditor said.
“It is being hidden.”
Rafael’s face became pale.
Tomas looked toward his sister.
“You told us the sale would protect the workers.”
“It would.”
“By transferring their buildings to Harrison?”
Veronica closed her folder.
“This meeting is over.”
Teresa remained seated.
“No.”
“You do not dismiss me in my own boardroom.”
Veronica stared at her.
Teresa continued.
“The meeting ends when the controlling shareholder ends it.”
For fifteen years, Veronica had spoken over Teresa in kitchens, hallways, and dining rooms.
The boardroom rules were different.
Teresa asked the directors to vote on three emergency measures.
Freeze related-party transactions.
Protect employee benefits.
Suspend Veronica’s signing authority during the audit.
Nine directors supported all three.
Rafael abstained.
Veronica voted against them.
After the meeting, she cornered Teresa near the elevator.
“You think my father chose you because he loved your mother.”
“He chose you because he wanted to punish me.”
May you like
Teresa looked at her.
“Then why did you give him so many reasons?”
