Chapter 8 - Eight O'Clock
At 7:58 a.m., Matthew stood at the head of Hale Meridian's boardroom table.
He looked immaculate.
His black suit had been changed.
His blonde hair was perfectly combed.
There was no visible evidence that only hours earlier his wife had been sitting injured on a dark apartment floor.
Eleven directors sat around the table.
Julian Cross occupied a chair near the wall as outside counsel.
Victor Sloan whispered to another director near the windows.
Richid's chair remained empty.
Matthew checked his watch.
"We should begin."
The board secretary cleared her throat.
"Mr. Hale has requested a thirty-minute delay."
"Denied."
Several directors looked up.
The secretary frowned.
"The chair has authority to request—"
"The chair is the subject of the confidence vote."
Matthew placed a folder on the table.
"He has no authority to delay proceedings concerning his own removal."
The door opened.
Claire entered.
Every person in the room went silent.
She had changed into a simple black dress and low heels purchased from the hotel boutique.
Makeup covered some of the discoloration on her cheek, but not all of it.
She carried her mother's carved cane in one hand.
Naomi Reed followed behind her.
Matthew's face changed for less than a second.
Then he recovered.
"Claire."
She did not look at him.
She walked to the empty chair opposite Matthew and sat down.
Naomi remained standing behind her.
Julian rose immediately.
"Ms. Reed has no standing here."
Claire placed a document on the table.
"She does as counsel to my trust."
Julian's face tightened.
Matthew looked at Naomi.
"That trust is administered by Richid Hale."
"Not anymore," Claire said.
The door opened again.
Richid entered.
He saw Naomi and stopped.
Claire watched his reaction.
There was anger.
There was fear.
And beneath both, resignation.
"You brought her here."
Claire gestured to the chair beside her.
"Sit down, Dad."
Richid stared at her.
She held his gaze.
He sat.
Matthew turned to the directors.
"This is becoming a family spectacle."
Claire finally looked at him.
"You made it a family spectacle when you put a camera in my flowers."
The room changed.
Victor Sloan looked sharply at Matthew.
Julian went still.
Matthew remained composed.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Claire nodded to Naomi.
Naomi connected her tablet to the room display.
Matthew's recorded image appeared on the screen.
The board watched him place the tiny camera among the orchids.
Then they watched Julian arrive.
They heard the conversation.
SHE'LL FIGHT THE PROXY.
THEN MAKE SURE THE FIGHT LOOKS MUTUAL.
Matthew's face became rigid.
Julian stood.
"This recording was obtained unlawfully."
Naomi looked at him.
"You recorded it yourself."
A few directors exchanged shocked glances.
Claire turned toward Julian.
"You told him to provoke me."
"The context is being distorted."
"What context makes that sentence acceptable?"
Julian opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Matthew stepped forward.
"This has nothing to do with the financial evidence against Richid."
Claire looked at him.
"You're right."
Matthew seemed surprised.
Claire continued.
"So we'll discuss that too."
Richid turned toward her.
"Claire."
"No more secrets."
She placed the sealed trust document on the table.
"My mother created an emergency clause transferring voting control of my shares directly to me if my trustee concealed material information."
Several directors looked at Richid.
Claire kept speaking.
"My father concealed the Samuel Voss partnership from me."
Matthew's expression changed.
He had expected Claire to protect Richid.
She saw that now.
He had built his entire strategy around the assumption that she would choose one man against the other.
She chose neither.
"Therefore," Claire said, "I am exercising my voting rights personally."
Victor Sloan leaned forward.
"Your ownership percentage is disputed."
Naomi placed certified trust records on the table.
"Thirty-eight percent."
The board secretary reviewed the first page.
Her eyes widened.
"This appears properly executed."
Richid closed his eyes briefly.
Matthew looked at Claire.
"You don't know what you're doing."
Claire almost smiled.
"You've been telling me that for two years."
"The company can collapse today."
"Then maybe it deserves to."
Matthew's jaw tightened.
The board secretary cleared her throat.
"We have a motion to remove Mr. Hale as chief executive."
Claire raised a hand.
"I move to amend."
"On what grounds?"
"I want an independent forensic audit before any permanent leadership vote."
Victor Sloan shook his head.
"That could take months."
"Then the company can survive months of honesty."
Matthew leaned forward.
"And who runs the company during your audit?"
Claire looked at the directors.
"No member of my family."
The silence was immediate.
Richid looked at her.
Matthew looked at her.
Claire continued.
"Appoint an interim executive from outside Hale Meridian."
A director named Karen Whitmore nodded slowly.
"I second the motion."
Matthew's face hardened.
"This is reckless."
Claire turned toward him.
"So was marrying a woman to steal her vote."
Matthew's eyes flashed.
"Careful."
The word came out before he could stop it.
The entire board heard the threat.
Claire did not look away.
"No."
She spoke quietly.
"You be careful."
The secretary began counting preliminary voting interests.
Then Julian leaned toward Matthew and whispered something.
Matthew's expression changed.
He reached into his folder.
"Before the board considers Ms. Hale Voss's motion, there is a legal issue."
Claire's stomach tightened.
Matthew removed a notarized document.
"At 4:22 p.m. yesterday, Claire executed a durable voting proxy assigning her Hale Meridian interests to me."
Claire stared at him.
"No, I didn't."
Matthew slid the document across the table.
Her signature was at the bottom.
It looked perfect.
A notary seal sat beside it.
The board secretary picked it up.
Claire felt the room spin.
"That's forged."
May you like
Matthew's voice remained calm.
"Prove it."
