Chapter 16 - The Price of His Family
Daniel chose an abandoned Cole Industries warehouse near the Hudson River.
Nathan knew the location well.
His father had taken him there as a teenager.
Back then, hundreds of employees built industrial equipment inside.
Now only rusted machinery remained.
Federal agents surrounded the property from a distance.
Daniel had anticipated that too.
He sent Nathan photographs proving explosives had been placed around the room holding Grace and Lily.
Any visible police entry could trigger them remotely.
Marcus wanted to delay.
Nathan refused.
He entered alone.
Daniel waited beneath a hanging work light.
Grace sat several yards away with Lily.
Their hands were restrained.
Neither appeared injured.
Nathan felt relief and rage at the same time.
Daniel smiled.
“You came.”
Nathan looked at Grace.
She met his eyes.
Stay calm.
He understood.
“What do you want?”
Daniel placed documents on a table.
“Your controlling shares.”
Nathan laughed.
“You think you can own Cole Industries after this?”
“I don’t need to own it publicly.”
Daniel tapped the contract.
“You transfer voting control to a trust.”
“The trust is managed through nominees.”
“I disappear.”
“You keep your title.”
Nathan stared at him.
“And Richard?”
“Finished.”
“Victoria?”
“Finished.”
“You?”
Daniel smiled.
“Rewarded.”
Nathan looked at Lily.
She was watching him.
He remembered her words.
I knew you’d come.
He picked up the pen.
Grace suddenly shouted.
“Don’t.”
Daniel raised a remote.
Nathan stopped.
Grace looked at him.
“You told me five years were stolen from you.”
Her voice shook.
“Don’t give him the next fifty.”
Daniel stepped toward her.
“Enough.”
Nathan signed.
Daniel smiled.
Then Nathan pushed the papers forward.
“There.”
Daniel examined the signature.
“Smart.”
Nathan looked at him.
“There’s one problem.”
Daniel frowned.
“The shares aren’t mine anymore.”
Silence.
Daniel’s expression changed.
Nathan continued.
“Three hours ago, I transferred every personally controlled voting share into an employee benefit trust.”
Daniel stared at him.
Nathan smiled faintly.
“You wanted the company.”
“I gave it to the eleven thousand people you were using as leverage.”
Daniel’s calm finally disappeared.
“You’re lying.”
Nathan shook his head.
“My board announcement goes public in nine minutes.”
Daniel raised the remote.
Grace pulled Lily closer.
Nathan stepped forward.
“If you press that button, you gain nothing.”
Daniel’s hand trembled.
“You lose them.”
Nathan looked at Grace.
Then Lily.
“Yes.”
His voice cracked.
“But you still gain nothing.”
For the first time, Daniel looked uncertain.
That was all Grace needed.
She kicked the metal leg of the table beside her.
A heavy tool box crashed to the floor.
Daniel turned instinctively.
Nathan lunged.
They hit the concrete together.
The remote flew from Daniel’s hand.
Grace threw herself over Lily.
Daniel punched Nathan.
Nathan struck back.
Federal agents stormed the building.
Daniel crawled toward the remote.
Nathan grabbed his ankle.
An agent reached it first.
Within seconds, Daniel was surrounded.
He looked at Nathan with hatred.
“You destroyed your father’s empire for a maid and a child.”
Nathan, bleeding from the lip, looked toward Grace and Lily.
“No.”
May you like
He slowly stood.
“I destroyed it for my family.”
