Chapter 7 - The Trust Clause
Victor met his attorney, Naomi Pierce, at six in the morning.
She arrived carrying two leather folders and a look Victor recognized immediately.
Something was very wrong.
Naomi opened Ethan’s trust agreement.
Grace had owned eighteen percent of Blackwood Holdings before her death.
Her shares had passed into trust for Ethan.
Victor served as trustee until Ethan reached twenty-five.
Those shares, combined with Victor’s own holdings, gave him effective control of the company.
Naomi pointed to a section buried deep in the agreement.
“If the acting trustee is found guilty of gross negligence involving the beneficiary, temporary authority passes to the designated alternate trustee.”
Victor already knew the answer.
“Adrian.”
Naomi nodded.
Victor stood slowly.
“So if someone creates evidence that Ethan is being neglected inside my home.”
“Adrian can petition for emergency control.”
“For how long?”
“Potentially until a court finishes reviewing your fitness.”
Victor understood everything.
The camera failures.
The undocumented injuries.
The attempt to blame Lily.
The canceled doctor appointments.
It created a pattern.
A dangerous household.
A negligent father.
An abusive nanny.
And Victor conveniently traveling while it all happened.
“Serena was building a case against me.”
Naomi closed the file.
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“There’s one problem.”
She pulled out another document.
The original trust had not named Adrian.
Victor looked closer.
The alternate trustee had originally been Grace’s sister, Rebecca.
Victor frowned.
“Rebecca died three years ago.”
“Yes.”
“Then Adrian became the alternate.”
“Six months later.”
Victor looked up.
“Who approved the amendment?”
Naomi remained silent.
Victor suddenly understood why.
“I did.”
“Yes.”
He remembered signing dozens of estate documents after Rebecca’s death.
He had barely read them.
Grace had been dead less than a year.
Victor had been grieving.
Daniel had placed papers in front of him.
Adrian had promised to protect Ethan if anything happened.
Victor had signed.
Naomi handed him the amendment.
Daniel Cross’s signature appeared as witness.
Victor stared at it.
Daniel.
Adrian.
Serena.
Three people orbiting the same clause.
Naomi turned the page.
“There’s another detail you need to know.”
“What?”
“If Adrian gains temporary control of Ethan’s trust, he also gains voting authority over those shares.”
Victor’s stomach tightened.
“How much control?”
May you like
Naomi looked directly at him.
“Enough to remove you as CEO.”
