Chapter 15 - The New Owner
At exactly nine o’clock the following morning, Charlotte Vale walked onto the stage inside Solmere Hotel’s grand ballroom.
Hundreds of employees filled the room.
News cameras lined the back wall.
Investors watched through a global livestream.
Charlotte stood beneath the gold Solmere emblem.
Four months earlier, she had been grieving.
Four days earlier, she had been dragged across the lobby floor.
Now she spoke as the controlling owner of one of the largest hospitality companies in the country.
“My name is Charlotte Vale.”
The room became completely silent.
“Many of you have heard stories about me.”
She paused.
“Some were created by people who hoped I would disappear.”
Charlotte looked toward the cameras.
“I’m not disappearing.”
Applause began in the employee section.
Then spread.
Charlotte waited.
“Effective immediately, I am assuming executive control of Solmere Holdings.”
The financial news channels exploded.
Solmere stock rose seven percent within minutes.
Malcolm’s plan depended on panic.
Charlotte was giving investors confidence instead.
She announced an independent forensic audit.
A whistleblower program.
Protection for employees who reported corruption.
And temporary suspension of every executive connected to Daniel Vale.
Then she did something nobody expected.
“I also owe an apology.”
Charlotte looked toward Vivian.
Vivian’s face changed.
Charlotte continued.
“Solmere became a place where wealth mattered more than dignity.”
She remembered the guests watching her on the floor.
“That ends today.”
The employees applauded louder.
Charlotte left the stage.
Ethan met her backstage.
“You just declared war.”
“I know.”
His phone vibrated.
He read the message.
His expression hardened.
“What?”
“Malcolm.”
Charlotte took the phone.
A photograph showed Anna Mercer.
The missing nurse.
She was sitting in an unknown room.
The message read:
YOUR MOTHER’S NURSE FOR YOUR COMPANY.
Charlotte closed her eyes.
Malcolm had Anna.
“He wants Solmere.”
Ethan nodded.
“Controlling shares.”
“Impossible.”
“Not if you sign.”
Charlotte looked at the photograph.
Anna had risked her life trying to tell the truth.
Charlotte could not abandon her.
But she could not hand Malcolm the empire either.
Her phone rang.
Malcolm.
Charlotte answered.
“Where is she?”
His voice was calm.
“Good morning, Charlotte.”
“If you hurt Anna—”
“You’ll do what?”
Malcolm laughed.
“You’re beginning to sound like Daniel.”
Charlotte stayed silent.
“Midnight.”
He continued.
“Pier 19.”
“Bring signed transfer documents.”
“You know I won’t.”
“Oh, I think you will.”
Charlotte heard movement in the background.
Then Anna’s voice.
“Charlotte, don’t—”
A slap.
Charlotte’s jaw tightened.
Malcolm returned.
“Midnight.”
The call ended.
Ethan stared at her.
“You’re not signing anything.”
Charlotte looked through the ballroom doors at hundreds of Solmere employees.
“No.”
She folded the transfer papers.
“But Malcolm doesn’t know that yet.”
May you like
That night, Charlotte walked toward Pier 19 alone.
At least, that was what Malcolm was supposed to believe.
