Chapter 2 - The Gates Were Never His
Julian grabbed his phone.
His chief financial officer was calling.
“What happened?”
Julian demanded.
The answer made his face pale.
“What do you mean we’ve lost access?”
Guests began whispering.
Eleanor moved toward Elena.
“Reverse whatever you did.”
Elena picked up her coat.
“No.”
Eleanor blocked her path.
“You’re my son’s wife.”
“That stopped meaning anything the moment he used my signature to hide stolen money.”
Julian looked up sharply.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Elena reached into her handbag.
She removed a single folded document.
“March seventeenth.”
She placed it on the table.
“Fourteen million dollars transferred from Ashford Development to Northbridge Consulting.”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“Northbridge is a vendor.”
“It has no employees.”
Elena placed another page beside the first.
“No office.”
Another page.
“No products.”
Then another.
“And its beneficial owner is your college roommate, Peter Lawson.”
The room went silent again.
Eleanor grabbed the papers.
“These can be fabricated.”
“They could.”
Elena nodded.
“That’s why originals are already with attorneys.”
Julian moved toward her.
One security officer stepped between them.
Julian stared at him.
“What are you doing?”
The guard swallowed.
“Sir, we received updated instructions.”
“From whom?”
The officer looked at Elena.
“From the controlling security contractor.”
Eleanor turned slowly.
Elena buttoned her coat.
“You thought Ashford Security belonged to you because your name was painted on the vehicles.”
She glanced toward Julian.
“It doesn’t.”
Julian laughed nervously.
“You’re bluffing.”
Elena walked toward the front entrance.
This time nobody stopped her.
Julian followed.
Outside, black SUVs lined the circular driveway.
He pointed toward the iron gates.
“Lock them.”
Nothing happened.
“LOCK THE GATES!”
The gatehouse operator stepped outside.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Ashford.”
Julian stared at him.
“Sorry?”
“We’ve been instructed not to detain Ms. Ashford.”
“By whom?”
The answer came from behind Elena.
“By me.”
A tall gray-haired man emerged from the lead vehicle.
Eleanor recognized him immediately.
Richard Hale had represented some of the largest corporate restructurings in the country.
He had also refused three meetings with Julian during the previous year.
Richard approached Elena.
“Everything is ready, Ms. Ward.”
Julian blinked.
“Ward?”
Elena turned.
Ashford was the surname she had taken when she married him.
Ward was the surname she had almost stopped using.
Almost.
Richard handed her a black folder.
“Your board is waiting.”
Eleanor stared at Elena.
“What board?”
May you like
Elena opened the car door.
“The board that actually owns the company holding your debt.”
