Chapter 6 - The Boardroom Ambush
By Monday morning, Eleanor was out on bail.
She arrived at Vance Industries at 8:02 wearing a navy suit and a pearl pin that had belonged to Julian's grandmother.
Half the board stood when she entered.
Julian did not.
Victoria attended by video from home under doctor's orders.
Naomi sat beside Julian with three binders of evidence.
Graham Pierce took his usual seat at the far end of the table.
"This meeting is unauthorized," Julian said.
Eleanor smiled.
"No. Your continued leadership is unauthorized."
A board secretary distributed packets.
Inside was the forged resignation from the storage unit.
Julian looked at Graham.
"You filed this?"
Graham adjusted his cuff.
"It was delivered Friday."
"While I was at the hospital?"
"I don't control your schedule."
Victoria's voice came through the screen.
"But you control the metadata."
Every head turned.
Naomi slid a report across the table.
"The document was generated on Mr. Pierce's workstation."
Graham's face remained neutral.
"My workstation is used by assistants."
"At 2:13 a.m.?"
Silence.
Eleanor interrupted.
"None of this changes the financial emergency. Julian has lost the confidence of this board."
One director cleared his throat.
"We were told Sterling Global had withdrawn financing."
Victoria leaned closer to her camera.
"Who told you that?"
Several eyes moved toward Graham.
He said, "Sterling's conditions are unacceptable."
"That wasn't the question."
Graham finally looked at the screen.
"Your so-called rescue requires us to hand an outside firm access to privileged company information."
"Correct."
"And remove executives based on allegations."
"Based on evidence."
Eleanor slapped one palm on the table.
"You will not take control of this family through blackmail."
Victoria's expression went cold.
"I don't want control of your family. I want to know where forty-two million dollars went."
Naomi opened Binder Two.
"We found eleven million."
That changed the room.
"Where?" Julian asked.
"A private investment account in the Cayman Islands."
Eleanor scoffed. "Convenient."
"The beneficial owner is Graham Pierce."
For the first time, Graham looked frightened.
Julian pushed back his chair.
"You're done."
Graham stood too.
"Sit down."
"Security is on the way."
"Julian, you have no idea what your father did to keep this company alive."
Julian froze.
"My father is dead."
Graham laughed bitterly.
"And you still think he died owing you the truth."
Eleanor turned toward him.
"Graham. Stop."
Everyone heard the fear in her voice.
Julian stepped closer.
"What truth?"
Graham looked at Eleanor.
May you like
Then at Julian.
"Ask your mother what happened to the first forty million."
