Chapter 9 - The Boardroom
The emergency board meeting began at nine the next morning.
David’s chair remained empty.
Nobody looked at it.
Twelve directors sat around the polished walnut table.
Half had known me for years.
The other half had treated me as David’s decorative wife.
That ended the moment Katherine placed the federal preservation order on the table.
Nolan Pierce sat three seats away.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
“Our CEO has not been convicted of anything,” Nolan said.
“Removing him now would destabilize the company.”
I looked at him.
“More than stealing eleven point eight million dollars?”
“Allegations.”
“More than forging the majority shareholder’s signature?”
“Also allegations.”
I slid the trust document toward him.
His initials were visible.
Nolan barely looked at it.
“Anyone could write initials.”
Katherine spoke.
“Then you won’t object to handwriting analysis.”
Nolan smiled faintly.
“Of course not.”
That confidence bothered me.
The board chairman, Harold Bishop, cleared his throat.
“We need to vote.”
Nolan leaned forward.
“Before anyone votes, counsel should review the proxy assignments.”
He placed a folder on the table.
My stomach tightened.
Inside were proxies granting David voting authority over enough shares to block removal.
Every document carried my digital signature.
Katherine whispered.
“This is worse than we thought.”
Nolan looked directly at me.
“Your grief is unimaginable, Maya.”
“Do not say my daughter’s name with sympathy in your voice.”
His smile vanished.
“You may not remember what you signed.”
“I remember enough.”
The vote began.
Five directors voted to remove David.
Four voted to retain him pending trial.
Two abstained.
Everything came down to Harold.
He studied the documents for a long time.
Then said.
“I cannot remove a CEO while the ownership dispute remains unresolved.”
Nolan relaxed.
David had survived.
At least on paper.
Then the boardroom doors opened.
Agent Cole entered with two federal agents.
Nolan’s face changed.
Cole walked directly toward him.
“Nolan Pierce.”
Nolan stood slowly.
“What is this?”
“We have a warrant to search your office and electronic devices.”
Nolan laughed.
“You could have served that downstairs.”
“We could have.”
Agent Cole placed another document before him.
“But then we wouldn’t have seen you submit forged proxy documents during a recorded board meeting.”
Nobody moved.
Nolan’s face drained.
Katherine looked at me.
The boardroom cameras had captured everything.
Agent Cole turned to Harold.
“For clarity, those proxies were invalidated by federal court order forty-one minutes ago.”
Harold looked at me.
Then at the directors.
“We will vote again.”
This time, the result was unanimous.
David Vance was removed as CEO.
I should have felt victory.
Instead, Agent Cole approached me quietly.
“We need to talk.”
“What happened?”
“We found Thomas Grant.”
Relief rushed through me.
“Is he alive?”
Agent Cole hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Then where is he?”
“In a hospital.”
My relief vanished.
“What happened to him?”
Cole’s answer made the room tilt.
May you like
“Someone tried very hard to make sure he never spoke to you again.”
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