Chapter 10 - The Boardroom
The Kingsley board meeting began at nine in the morning.
Grant walked in as if he still owned the place.
His lawyers followed him.
My uncle sat at the far end of the table.
Richard Vale was absent.
Or so I thought.
Then the doors opened.
He walked in.
Older.
Thinner.
But unmistakable.
Richard Vale.
My father's former financial chief.
He looked directly at me.
“Mara.”
I stood.
“Richard.”
Grant's expression changed.
He looked at my uncle.
Then back at me.
“You knew.”
I smiled.
“For weeks.”
He took a step forward.
“This is not what it looks like.”
“No.”
I pointed toward the screen.
“It is worse.”
The monitor came alive.
Bank transfers appeared.
Then messages.
Then recordings.
The room fell silent.
Grant's lawyer stood.
“We object.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“You can object after the evidence is finished.”
I pressed another button.
Vanessa appeared on the screen.
Her recorded testimony began.
Then came Grant's own voice.
Once she loses custody, everything becomes easy.
Grant went pale.
My uncle stood abruptly.
“This is fabricated.”
Evelyn walked in.
Everyone turned.
My uncle's face changed.
“You.”
Evelyn smiled.
“Surprised?”
Richard stepped backward.
Security appeared at the doors.
Then federal investigators entered behind them.
Grant looked at me.
“You planned this.”
I nodded.
“You taught me to plan ahead.”
He stared at me.
The woman he had humiliated in a hotel lobby was now standing at the head of the Kingsley boardroom.
Not as his wife.
Not as his victim.
May you like
As the person who had finally uncovered everything.
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