Chapter 6 - THE TEMPORARY ORDER
Arthur snatched the order from Graham.
It did not give Elena control of Lucas's trust. Not yet.
But it barred Arthur from making unilateral changes to Lucas's financial arrangements until a hearing three days later.
Elena smiled as if she had won everything.
"Sit down, Arthur."
He tore the merger packet in half.
"Meeting adjourned."
Graham shook his head. "You don't have the votes to adjourn."
"I own forty-one percent of this company."
"And the bylaws allow an emergency vote if the chair is impaired."
Arthur looked at the directors who had once toasted him at company anniversaries. Three would not meet his eyes.
Victor leaned back. "Business is business."
Arthur pointed at him. "You coached my wife to manufacture evidence against me so you could steal voting rights from a child. That's not business."
"Careful," Elena said. "Defamation is expensive."
Daniel whispered, "Don't give them anger they can use."
Arthur forced his hands open.
Then Ben entered the room and handed him a tablet.
"You need to see this."
Security footage from the company garage showed Graham Pike meeting Elena at 11:43 p.m. six weeks earlier. Graham carried a leather portfolio. Elena carried Arthur's old signature stamp, normally locked in the executive records cabinet.
The video ended with them hugging.
Not professionally.
Elena saw the screen.
Her face drained.
Arthur looked from her to Graham.
Graham stood too quickly. "That proves nothing."
"It proves you lied about knowing her plan."
Graham grabbed his briefcase.
Daniel blocked him. "Leave the company laptop."
Graham laughed. "You don't have authority."
"Maybe not," Ben said. "But federal investigators do."
Everyone turned.
May you like
Ben held up his phone.
"And they're downstairs."
