Chapter 9 - Daniel Strikes Back
Daniel realized he had lost Adam before lunchtime.
By evening, he decided to attack Rebecca publicly.
A business journalist received an anonymous package.
Inside were documents claiming Rebecca had secretly manipulated Carter Development finances.
The story appeared online before midnight.
HEIRESS WIFE SEIZES HUSBAND’S COMPANY DURING BITTER MARITAL SPLIT.
Daniel read the headline three times.
Then smiled.
By morning, the story had spread everywhere.
Rebecca’s phone filled with messages.
Investors called.
Board members demanded explanations.
Reporters gathered outside Carter Development headquarters.
Chloe watched the television from her apartment.
Daniel had not called her since their argument.
She saw him appear outside the courthouse.
He looked exhausted but composed.
“Mr. Carter, did your wife improperly seize control of your company?”
A reporter shouted.
Daniel stopped.
“I won’t attack the mother of my child.”
Chloe laughed aloud.
Daniel continued.
“But I believe Rebecca is being influenced by people who do not understand our business.”
Another reporter asked about the missing money.
Daniel’s expression became wounded.
“Every transaction I approved was for legitimate corporate purposes.”
Chloe stared at the television.
“You liar.”
Daniel continued.
“My greatest concern is our employees.”
Rebecca watched the same interview from her apartment.
Adam stood beside her.
“He’s pretending to protect employees?”
“Yes.”
“He was selling them.”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you release Phoenix?”
Rebecca looked at Caroline.
“Because we release evidence when it helps the case.”
“Not when Daniel wants us angry.”
Adam shook his head.
“He’s humiliating you.”
Rebecca turned toward her son.
“He humiliated me when I believed his opinion mattered more than my own.”
“This is noise.”
By noon, however, the noise became dangerous.
Two lenders suspended new credit lines.
A major investor demanded Daniel be reinstated temporarily.
The board scheduled another emergency meeting.
Daniel arrived wearing a fresh suit.
He seemed almost cheerful.
Rebecca understood why.
Fear was returning to the room.
And fear had always been Daniel’s favorite tool.
One director looked at Rebecca.
“Until these allegations are clarified, perhaps we should reverse the leadership changes.”
Daniel leaned back.
“Reasonable.”
Rebecca opened her folder.
“I agree that allegations should be clarified.”
Daniel’s smile weakened.
Rebecca nodded toward Caroline.
Caroline activated the conference screen.
A document appeared.
PROJECT PHOENIX.
The room went silent.
Daniel stood.
“This is confidential.”
Rebecca looked at him.
“So it’s authentic?”
Daniel realized his mistake.
Caroline continued.
“This agreement proposed the sale of Carter Development without full board disclosure.”
She displayed Daniel’s eighteen-million-dollar bonus.
Then the employee reduction plan.
Then Adam’s guarantee.
Several directors stared at Daniel.
One whispered.
“What the hell is this?”
Daniel pointed toward Rebecca.
“She stole privileged documents.”
Chloe’s voice suddenly came from the doorway.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
She stood beside security with Caroline’s assistant.
“I gave them the documents.”
Daniel’s face lost all color.
“Chloe.”
She walked into the room.
“You told me they were legitimate.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Leave.”
“No.”
She placed her tablet on the table.
“You said Rebecca was too stupid to understand any of it.”
Rebecca’s expression did not change.
Chloe looked directly at Daniel.
“You also said the board would never know.”
Daniel stared at her with hatred.
“Be very careful.”
Chloe swallowed.
Then she looked around the table.
“I have messages.”
“Hundreds.”
Daniel stepped toward her.
Security immediately moved between them.
Chloe flinched.
Rebecca saw it.
And in that small reaction, she understood something important.
Chloe was no longer protecting Daniel.
She was afraid of him.
Caroline looked toward the board.
“We also have evidence concerning unauthorized transfers.”
Daniel turned toward Rebecca.
“This is your revenge?”
Rebecca shook her head.
“No.”
She looked around the room.
“This is accountability.”
The chairman slowly closed his folder.
Then he spoke.
“I move that Daniel Carter be suspended from all executive authority pending a forensic investigation.”
A second director raised her hand.
“Seconded.”
Daniel looked around the table.
One by one, hands rose.
Even people who had supported him an hour earlier voted yes.
Daniel stared at Rebecca.
“You think you won?”
Rebecca met his eyes.
May you like
“No.”
“I think we finally started counting what you broke.”
