Chapter 16 - The Company Vote
Protocol 7 had frozen emergency authority for thirty days.
After that, Halcyon’s board had to vote on permanent governance changes.
Cassidy entered headquarters visibly pregnant.
For years, she had avoided appearing publicly as owner.
That ended.
Employees filled the atrium.
Some looked surprised.
Many had already learned through the scandal.
Cassidy addressed them first.
“Halcyon was not harmed because outsiders discovered misconduct.”
“It was harmed because insiders believed secrecy protected the company.”
She announced new rules.
Related-party contracts required independent review.
Family-linked vendors faced enhanced disclosure.
No executive could access trust planning for employees or owners without written authorization.
Whistleblower reporting went outside management.
Protocol 7 would remain.
But no longer under one person’s secret control.
Three independent officers would share emergency authority.
Daniel Price approved.
Mara approved.
The board approved.
Cassidy did something else.
She separated ownership from executive management.
She remained controlling shareholder.
But hired an external CEO.
Brendan had always assumed owning something meant personally controlling every room.
Cassidy had learned the opposite.
Good ownership meant building systems that did not depend on one person being perfect.
At the board vote, the Holloway family representatives lost their remaining special rights.
Brendan retained a small economic stake inherited through his father.
No management authority.
Margaret lost committee positions.
Serena’s vendor contracts were terminated.
Victor’s proposed equity grant disappeared.
Naomi was removed from employment.
Then Daniel presented recovery totals.
Eighteen-point-four million stolen through current schemes.
Thirty-one million identified in related fraud.
Forty-three million frozen from Arthur Pierce’s legacy account.
Much would take years to recover legally.
Cassidy nodded.
“What about Project Heir?”
“Terminated.”
“Copies?”
“Preserved only for evidence.”
May you like
Cassidy placed both hands over her belly.
For the first time in months, her child’s future existed outside someone else’s spreadsheet.
