Chapter 13 - Thirty-Six Hours
Cassidy did not cry.
Not because the discovery did not hurt.
It did.
It hurt more than the affair.
More than the public humiliation.
More than the bucket of filthy water.
An affair could mean love had died.
A purchased courtship meant love might never have existed.
But Cassidy had no time to grieve.
Martin entered with worse news.
The probate judge had rejected Brendan’s emergency request.
That should have been a victory.
Instead, Brendan’s attorneys immediately filed a corporate challenge.
They alleged Protocol 7 had been activated by an unstable controlling shareholder without proper board review.
“They want the protocol suspended.”
Margaret said.
Martin nodded.
“And they have enough signatures to force an emergency board vote.”
Cassidy frowned.
“Who signed?”
Martin handed her the list.
Two retired directors.
One current minority investor.
And a holding company Cassidy did not recognize.
Vale Strategic Partners.
Victor.
“When?”
“Thirty-six hours.”
The vote could not take Cassidy’s shares.
But it could temporarily restrict her executive authority while fraud allegations were reviewed.
That would give Victor time.
Cassidy looked at Marcus.
“How much voting power does Vale Strategic control?”
“Seven percent.”
“Where did it come from?”
“Quiet purchases from former employees over the last six years.”
Victor had been accumulating influence piece by piece.
Margaret asked the obvious question.
“What does he need?”
“Twenty-five percent to force extraordinary governance review.”
Marcus replied.
“And he currently has?”
“Seventeen, including aligned investors.”
Cassidy looked at the board records.
“Then he needs eight more.”
Owen suddenly stood.
“My family trust.”
Everyone turned.
“My father left me eight percent.”
Cassidy stared at him.
Owen’s shares were non-voting under ordinary conditions.
But under a continuity dispute, old founder-era shares temporarily regained voting rights.
Exactly eight percent.
Victor did not need Owen’s cooperation forever.
He needed it once.
Owen went pale.
“He’s going after my trust.”
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
Owen answered on speaker.
Victor Hart’s voice filled the room.
Older.
Calm.
Almost amused.
“Hello, Owen.”
Owen clenched his jaw.
“You used my father’s credentials.”
“Your father was sentimental about passwords.”
Cassidy stepped closer.
“Victor.”
Silence.
Then a soft laugh.
“Cassidy.”
Her skin crawled.
“You should have stayed dead.”
“I considered it.”
“What do you want?”
“What was always mine.”
“Meridian was never yours.”
“I built half of it.”
“My grandmother removed you.”
“She stole my inheritance.”
“She stopped you from destroying the company.”
Victor’s voice hardened for the first time.
Then softened again.
“You sound like Evelyn.”
Cassidy considered that a compliment.
Victor continued.
“Owen.”
“What?”
“Check your email.”
Owen’s laptop chimed.
A document appeared.
Owen opened it.
His face went white.
It was a signed loan agreement carrying his father’s trust as collateral.
Owen shook his head.
“That’s forged.”
Victor laughed.
“Perhaps.”
“But while courts decide, your shares remain disputed.”
Cassidy understood.
Victor did not need Owen to vote for him.
He only needed Owen’s eight percent frozen so Cassidy could not count on it.
Victor continued.
“Thirty-six hours, Cassidy.”
“For what?”
“To decide whether you want a company or a family.”
Cassidy’s hand tightened around the phone.
Victor spoke one final sentence.
“Because you are not the only Hart carrying a child whose name appears in that trust.”
The call ended.
Cassidy looked at Margaret.
“What does that mean?”
Margaret did not answer.
Cassidy saw fear in her face.
“Margaret.”
May you like
Finally, the chairwoman whispered.
“Your grandmother had another grandchild.”
