Chapter 9 - THE BOARDROOM
Seven directors sat around the long glass table.
Victor Hale sat at the far end.
He wore a navy suit.
Silver cuff links.
Perfectly calm expression.
Matthew took his usual chair.
I took the empty seat across from him.
My father remained outside.
This was my company problem now.
Arthur sat behind me as counsel.
The board chair, Evelyn Cho, began.
“Mr. Hayes, serious allegations have been raised regarding company funds, unauthorized asset transfers, and falsified approvals.”
Matthew leaned back.
“I understand Clare has decided to turn a private marital dispute into corporate theater.”
I felt every eye move toward me.
He continued.
“My wife is under medication.”
“She is emotionally distressed.”
“And her father has spent years looking for an excuse to interfere in this company.”
I said nothing.
Arthur had warned me.
Let liars build their own cages.
Evelyn looked at me.
“Mrs. Hayes?”
“My medical condition has nothing to do with whether my signature was forged.”
Matthew's jaw flexed.
I slid copies across the table.
“The Cascade consent.”
“The Lighthouse collateral authorization.”
“Both contain signatures I did not provide.”
Victor finally spoke.
“These are serious claims.”
I turned toward him.
“So are shell companies.”
His expression did not change.
Good.
He was better than Matthew.
That made him more dangerous.
Ben entered.
Matthew's face went pale.
“Benjamin.”
Ben sat beside the general counsel.
Evelyn looked at him.
“You asked to address the board.”
“Yes.”
Ben placed his laptop on the table.
For the next twenty-three minutes, he explained Project Lighthouse.
No drama.
No accusations.
Just numbers.
Transfers.
Dates.
Entities.
Victor interrupted twice.
Matthew interrupted six times.
By the end, nobody looked at Matthew.
Evelyn removed her glasses.
“Mr. Hayes, did you authorize these structures?”
“They were strategic vehicles.”
“Did the board approve eighty-four million dollars in related exposure?”
“They were informed.”
“No.”
Another director spoke.
“We were not.”
Matthew turned toward Victor.
For the first time, Victor did not help him.
That terrified Matthew.
“Victor?”
Victor folded his hands.
“I think you should answer the chair.”
There it was.
The first fracture.
Matthew stared at him.
“You knew every detail.”
Victor's eyes sharpened.
Evelyn looked between them.
“What does that mean?”
Matthew realized he had spoken too quickly.
“Nothing.”
I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
The board voted.
Six to one.
Matthew Hayes was suspended as chief executive officer pending investigation.
His access to all NexusCore systems was terminated immediately.
His company accounts were frozen.
His executive security credentials were revoked.
Matthew sat motionless.
Then he laughed.
“You think this matters?”
Evelyn's expression hardened.
“Yes.”
He stood.
“You have no idea what you've just done.”
I looked up at him.
“No.”
“You have no idea what you did last night.”
His eyes locked onto mine.
For half a second, I saw the man I had loved.
The ambitious twenty-seven-year-old with cheap shoes and impossible dreams.
Then he disappeared.
Matthew leaned closer.
“You'll regret choosing them.”
I stood despite the pain.
“I chose myself.”
Security entered.
Matthew looked around the room.
Nobody defended him.
Not even Victor.
As they escorted him out, he stopped beside me.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“You think your father saved you.”
I met his eyes.
“No.”
“He reminded me I could save myself.”
Matthew walked away.
Then Arthur's phone buzzed.
He read the message.
His face tightened.
“What?”
I asked.
He turned the screen toward me.
Cascade Meridian had filed suit in Delaware.
They were demanding immediate enforcement of the sale agreement.
And their lead attorney had attached a document none of us had seen.
A notarized waiver.
May you like
Supposedly signed by me six years earlier.
This one looked real.
