Chapter 5 - HALF THE COMPANY
Dad admitted it.
He had moved forty-nine percent of my voting shares into a temporary protective trust.
"You had no right."
"You signed a succession agreement years ago. It allows protection when there is evidence of fraud or coercion."
Vanessa laughed.
"See? He stole your company."
Dad opened another document.
"Six months ago, someone used Ethan's corporate account from Vanessa's laptop and tried to approve a $1.8 million equipment purchase."
I stared at her.
"For what equipment?"
Dad answered.
"For a warehouse that doesn't exist."
Grant had stopped the transaction.
Weeks later, Grant began helping Vanessa create Redstone.
"So you moved my shares?"
"To keep anyone from using your access."
Vanessa shouted, "He is treating you like a child!"
I turned to her.
"Did you use my corporate login?"
"We share devices."
"Did you?"
She did not answer.
Then Mom stood with Dad's help.
"I asked Vanessa not to marry you until she told you the truth."
I looked at her.
"What truth?"
Mom reached into her jacket and pulled out a flash drive.
"I found this in my kitchen."
Vanessa's face changed instantly.
May you like
My mother's voice was not angry when she spoke. That made it worse. She sounded tired, like someone who had spent months knocking on a door and finally accepted that the person inside had chosen not to answer.
Then she ran toward my mother.
