Chapter 16 - The Company Julian Chose to Lose
Cross Holdings’ emergency shareholder meeting was televised.
Analysts expected Julian to reclaim control.
Celeste’s arrest had destroyed opposition.
The paternity challenge had collapsed.
Legally, Julian could walk into the boardroom and resume his old life.
Abby watched from the back row.
Julian entered without an entourage.
No dramatic music.
No celebration.
He took the central seat.
Then he stood.
“For most of my adult life, I believed wealth created responsibility.”
He paused.
“I was wrong.”
The room stirred.
“Wealth creates opportunity.”
“Responsibility still requires a choice.”
Abby thought of the dresser.
The money.
Her trembling hand.
Julian continued.
“I chose suspicion.”
“I created secret integrity tests.”
“I permitted employees to be investigated without independent review.”
“I allowed Martin Voss to control evidence.”
“Twenty-seven people lost jobs because I believed authority was the same as truth.”
Several board members looked uncomfortable.
Julian did not soften.
“Today, I am resigning as chief executive.”
The room exploded.
Abby sat straighter.
Even she had not known.
Julian waited.
“I will retain ownership.”
“I will retain my board seat.”
“But Cross Holdings will appoint an independent CEO.”
“A permanent ethics ombudsman will be created.”
“Employee allegations will require outside review.”
“And every employee falsely accused under my testing program will receive compensation and a public apology.”
A shareholder shouted.
“How much will this cost?”
Julian looked toward him.
“Less than what dishonesty cost them.”
Abby smiled.
Another shareholder stood.
“What about the Cross Foundation?”
“It will be dissolved in its current form.”
More shouting.
Julian raised his voice.
“Remaining assets will transfer to an independent trust controlled by no member of the Cross family.”
Celeste’s empire ended in one sentence.
After the meeting, reporters surrounded Julian.
He answered questions for almost an hour.
Then he found Abby on the roof terrace.
“You resigned.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“You would have argued.”
“Probably.”
He stood beside her.
Manhattan stretched below.
For once, he looked lighter.
Not happy exactly.
Unburdened.
“What will you do?”
“I have several billion dollars.”
Abby rolled her eyes.
“Other than remind me you are still disgustingly rich.”
“I haven’t decided.”
She leaned against the railing.
“Maybe clean houses.”
“I suspect I would be bad at it.”
“Pearl would judge you.”
They looked at the broken duster Abby had repaired with tape.
Julian smiled.
Then he became serious.
“There is something I need to ask you.”
Abby raised an eyebrow.
“You are not offering me a job.”
“I was.”
“No.”
“You didn’t let me finish.”
“I know rich people.”
“Clearly.”
“What job?”
“Director of the employee restitution project.”
Abby stared.
“No.”
“Why?”
“I clean houses.”
“You uncovered a conspiracy my executive team missed for twenty-two years.”
“Low bar.”
“You understand the victims.”
“That is exactly why I shouldn’t work for you.”
Julian frowned.
“Explain.”
“They need someone who works for them.”
“Not you.”
He considered that.
Abby continued.
“Set up an independent office.”
“Give Naomi a seat.”
“Get labor attorneys.”
“Investigators.”
“Former employees.”
“People who can tell you no without worrying you’ll stop paying them.”
Julian nodded slowly.
“That is better.”
“I know.”
He looked at her.
“You enjoy that sentence.”
“Deeply.”
He smiled.
Then the smile faded.
“Abigail.”
She waited.
“I do not want you to disappear when this ends.”
Her heartbeat shifted.
“That sounds dangerously personal.”
“It is.”
Neither moved.
Julian continued.
“I know the circumstances are terrible.”
“Very romantic.”
“I am trying.”
“Poorly.”
“I am aware.”
She smiled.
Then he stepped closer.
Not touching.
Not assuming.
“May I take you to dinner when nobody is missing, poisoned, arrested, framed, or shooting at us?”
Abby pretended to consider.
“That may be difficult for your family.”
“Statistically, things should improve.”
She laughed.
“Yes.”
His expression changed.
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
He leaned closer.
Then Abby’s phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
Both froze.
“That cannot be good.”
She answered.
“Abigail Mercer?”
A male voice.
“Yes.”
“My name is Dr. Samuel Keane.”
Abby frowned.
“I’m calling regarding your mother.”
“My mother died four years ago.”
“I know.”
The man paused.
“I was her oncologist.”
Abby’s chest tightened.
“What do you want?”
“I saw your press conference.”
“I saw the Cross name.”
“I need to tell you something I should have told you years ago.”
Julian watched her face.
Abby asked.
“What?”
Dr. Keane lowered his voice.
“Your mother’s cancer treatment was interrupted because her insurance authorization was repeatedly canceled.”
Abby remembered.
Appointments postponed.
Medications delayed.
Bills multiplying.
She had blamed bureaucracy.
“What does that have to do with Cross?”
“I reviewed the old administrative records.”
A pause.
“The cancellation requests came from a benefits company.”
“Which company?”
“Vale Medical Management.”
Julian went completely still.
Leonard Vale.
Abby felt sick.
“Why would Leonard interfere with my mother’s cancer treatment?”
Dr. Keane said.
“I don’t know.”
“But whoever submitted the requests used a Cross Holdings executive authorization code.”
Abby looked at Julian.
The conspiracy had not ended in 2004.
Someone had reached into Marianne’s life again in 2018.
While she was dying.
May you like
And this time Leonard Vale’s name was attached.
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