Chapter 14 - The Empire Strikes Back
Daniel Vale was arrested in Montana.
But the war was not over.
Within twelve hours, Daniel’s attorneys demanded his release.
They claimed unlawful detention.
They challenged every piece of evidence.
They accused Charlotte of staging the kidnapping.
Malcolm Voss disappeared.
Detective Warren Pike vanished.
Millions of dollars moved out of Solmere accounts overnight.
Someone was still operating Daniel’s network.
Charlotte returned to New York with Samuel.
News cameras surrounded Solmere Hotel.
This time, nobody called her a trespasser.
Reporters shouted her name.
“Miss Vale, are you taking control of Solmere?”
“Did Daniel murder your parents?”
“Is Samuel Grant your biological father?”
Charlotte ignored every question.
She walked through the lobby.
Employees stood silently.
The exact location where Vivian had dragged her across the marble was still visible in Charlotte’s memory.
Vivian entered behind her.
Every head turned.
Charlotte stopped.
Vivian stopped too.
The tension was immediate.
“You humiliated me here.”
Charlotte spoke quietly.
Vivian nodded.
“Yes.”
“You hurt me.”
“Yes.”
“You helped Daniel.”
“Yes.”
Vivian’s voice broke slightly.
“I did.”
Charlotte studied her.
“Why should I trust you now?”
“You shouldn’t.”
That answer surprised Charlotte.
Vivian continued.
“But you should use what I know.”
Charlotte nodded.
“That’s the first honest thing you’ve said.”
They entered the executive conference room.
Lena Brooks joined them.
Arthur Bell was already there.
Ethan stood beside the window.
Samuel sat near the head of the table.
Charlotte looked around.
People who once had no reason to trust one another were now all she had.
Lena placed photographs of Malcolm and Pike on the screen.
“They are probably still in New York.”
Vivian shook her head.
“Malcolm won’t run.”
“Why?”
“He believes Solmere belongs to him.”
Charlotte looked at Vivian.
“Not Daniel?”
Vivian smiled bitterly.
“Daniel thought Malcolm was his servant.”
“He was wrong.”
Vivian opened another ledger.
“Malcolm has been stealing from Daniel too.”
Ethan laughed once.
“A thief stealing from a thief.”
Vivian pointed toward a series of transactions.
“Malcolm created his own network.”
Charlotte noticed one account.
SOVEREIGN MERIDIAN TRUST.
Samuel leaned forward.
“I know that name.”
Everyone looked at him.
“They approached Grant International last year.”
“Who?”
Samuel’s expression changed.
“A private investment consortium.”
Charlotte understood.
“Malcolm is selling Solmere.”
Vivian nodded.
“He plans to trigger a liquidity crisis.”
“Then acquire the company through debt.”
Arthur finished.
Charlotte looked out over Manhattan.
The attack against her family had never been only about inheritance.
Malcolm wanted the entire empire.
Daniel had simply opened the door.
“How long?”
Charlotte asked.
Vivian checked the documents.
“Forty-eight hours.”
Charlotte turned.
“Then we stop him in forty-seven.”
Ethan smiled.
“That sounds familiar.”
Charlotte looked at the Solmere logo etched into the glass.
“No more hiding.”
She faced the room.
“Tomorrow morning, I’m publicly taking control of the company.”
Lena raised an eyebrow.
“That will make you Malcolm’s biggest target.”
May you like
Charlotte nodded.
“I’m counting on it.”
