Chapter 17 - The Woman Who Would Replace Him
Rebecca Sloan had worked for Richard for eighteen years.
She knew every department head.
She knew which board members feared instability.
She knew which lenders could be frightened by one headline.
Charles Bennett had money.
Daniel had legal access.
Vivian had family access.
Sophia had Ethan.
Rebecca had the company itself.
That made her more dangerous than all of them inside the boardroom.
She called the vote.
Four directors voted to suspend Richard.
Three voted against.
Two abstained.
Under the proxy documents Peter presented, Rebecca controlled enough additional votes to pass the resolution.
Richard was removed as chairman pending review.
The result lasted less than ten minutes legally.
Emotionally, it felt permanent.
Rebecca sat in Richard's chair.
"Security will escort you out."
Ethan's hands curled into fists.
Richard touched his arm.
"No."
His calm stopped Ethan more effectively than force could have.
Sophia watched Rebecca.
The concealed recorder captured every word.
"My father promised you the chair," Sophia said.
Rebecca looked at her.
"Your father promised many people many things."
"He said you would get twenty percent."
Rebecca's eyes narrowed.
"You should stop talking."
Sophia leaned forward.
"He told me you were the only one he trusted."
That was a lie.
But it was the right lie.
Rebecca's pride responded before her caution did.
"Charles trusts results."
"Did you give him the board mail?"
Rebecca said nothing.
Sophia pushed.
"Did you alter Simon Pierce's audit report?"
Peter Lang looked toward Rebecca.
That reaction mattered.
Rebecca noticed too late.
"Peter handled board communications."
Peter's face changed.
"You told me those reports were duplicates."
Rebecca turned on him.
"Be quiet."
The room went still.
Peter stood.
"You told me Daniel had reviewed them."
Rebecca's calm cracked.
"Sit down."
Peter did not.
Richard watched the alliance collapse in real time.
People who conspire successfully often believe they share the same plan.
They rarely share the same understanding of the risk.
Peter had apparently believed he was processing legitimate legal instructions.
Rebecca had used him as another shield.
The boardroom doors opened.
Two corporate security officers entered.
Marcus was not with them.
Rebecca pointed toward Richard and Ethan.
"Escort them from the executive floor."
One guard stepped forward.
Then stopped.
His earpiece crackled.
He looked at Rebecca.
"Ma'am, federal agents are in the lobby."
For the first time, Rebecca looked afraid.
Sophia's phone vibrated in her bag.
A message from Charles appeared on the monitored account.
GET OUT NOW.
Sophia read it aloud.
Rebecca stared at her.
"You idiot."
Sophia looked back.
"I learned from experts."
Rebecca grabbed the proxy documents from the table.
Richard spoke.
"Those won't survive forensic review."
Rebecca turned.
"They don't have to."
She smiled again, but this time desperation showed beneath it.
"They only had to survive today."
Richard understood.
Once installed as interim chair, Rebecca could authorize emergency asset movements, terminate auditors, and attempt to transfer corporate funds before a court froze the company.
A few hours might be enough.
Ethan checked his phone.
A treasury alert appeared.
Three wire instructions totaling $86 million had been queued for release.
Destination accounts were overseas.
"She's moving the cash now."
Richard looked at Rebecca.
She said nothing.
Ethan tried to cancel the wires.
His corporate access had been disabled.
Richard's access had been disabled too.
Rebecca was already using her temporary authority.
The board directors realized what was happening.
One shouted for her to stop.
Another called the bank.
Rebecca walked toward the side exit.
Sophia stepped in front of her.
Rebecca's face hardened.
"Move."
Sophia did not.
"My father is going to abandon you."
"You know nothing about your father."
"I know he abandons everyone when the numbers turn bad."
Rebecca's jaw tightened.
Sophia lowered her voice.
"Ask Daniel."
Rebecca froze.
That pause confirmed something Sophia had guessed.
Charles had told Rebecca that Daniel remained loyal.
Rebecca did not know Daniel had been prepared to negotiate with prosecutors.
Sophia pressed harder.
"He already gave them North Cove."
Another lie.
Rebecca's breathing changed.
"Daniel wouldn't."
"He did."
"You're lying."
"Maybe."
Sophia held her gaze.
"Call Charles and ask."
Rebecca did.
The speakerphone connected.
Charles Bennett answered with one sentence.
"Why are you still in the building?"
Rebecca's face fell.
Sophia looked at Ethan.
The recorder was capturing everything.
Rebecca whispered, "You said the transfers would clear before anyone knew."
Charles's voice sharpened.
"Get out."
"What about my authority?"
"Forget the authority."
"What about my share?"
A pause.
May you like
Then Charles said the sentence that ended her loyalty.
"Rebecca, there was never going to be a share."
