Chapter 11 - THE BOARD MEETING
Bennett-Cole's emergency board meeting began at 8:00 Monday morning.
I joined by secure video from my attorney's office.
My bruises were hidden beneath a high-neck blouse.
I did not hide my wrists.
Adrian joined from his lawyer's office.
His criminal attorney sat beside him.
His corporate attorney looked exhausted.
Grant Ellis did not appear.
Serena opened.
"We have three issues: governance, preservation of company assets, and suspected fiduciary misconduct. We will not litigate criminal allegations in this meeting."
Adrian interrupted.
"This entire proceeding is retaliatory."
The independent director, Helen Ross, looked at him.
"You were recorded striking your wife while she was restrained."
"That's personal."
"You are CEO of a company whose code of conduct includes violence and unlawful confinement as termination-level misconduct."
Adrian looked at me.
"You planned this."
I almost laughed.
"I planned for divorce. You planned the felony-looking part yourself."
His lawyer whispered urgently.
He shut up.
Julian presented the blocked eight-million-dollar transfer.
Then the payments to Barbara's consulting firm.
Then the attempt to use my digital signature.
Daniel presented evidence of unauthorized access to my email and hidden-camera downloads.
Serena presented the burner-phone messages about challenging my voting control.
No one raised their voice.
That made it worse.
Facts did not need volume.
The board voted unanimously to suspend Adrian as CEO pending investigation.
His company email went dark before the meeting ended.
His building access was revoked.
His corporate aircraft privileges were canceled.
Then came the equity issue.
Adrian had 9.6 percent fully vested.
He had spent years telling his family he owned nearly a quarter of the company.
The rest was performance equity subject to clawback and vesting conditions.
Serena read the provision.
Gross misconduct involving fraud, violence, or breach of fiduciary duty could cancel unvested units.
Adrian stared at the screen.
"That can't be legal."
May you like
His own attorney closed his eyes.
He had just discovered the difference between what Adrian bragged about owning and what he actually owned.
