Chapter 16 - The Boardroom Trap
The emergency board meeting began at eight the next morning. Victoria arrived with Sloane Urban's managing partner, Grant Sloane, and three directors who had supported her since Thomas Vale became ill. They sat at the far end of the table as if the outcome had already been decided.
Grant placed the purchase agreement in front of the chair. “My company entered a lawful contract to acquire the Bellwether. We have invested significant funds in preparation. We expect the hotel to honor its commitments.”
Elena's attorney laid the certified deed beside it. “The supposed seller never signed this agreement. The signature is a copied image. The document was created on a hotel computer using stolen credentials.”
Elena looked around the table. “You all have the deed. You have the trust papers. You have the forensic report. You can keep pretending this is a dispute about paperwork, or you can look at the money that disappeared while you were looking away.”
“You may,” Claire said. “Especially if you knew about the transfers and did nothing.”
Grant leaned forward. “The sale was approved by the board.” Davis rose from his chair. He admitted that he had seen suspicious invoices and failed to escalate them. He admitted that his access card had been used to create the false agreement. He did not ask the board to forgive him.
“I was afraid of losing my job,” he said. “So I let people who worked for me carry the cost of my silence. That was wrong. I will give the investigators every record I have.”
Victoria stood abruptly. “This is a circus. The gala is tonight, and the hotel cannot afford a public meltdown.”
Grant gathered his papers. “The injunction hearing is Monday. Until then, no major financial decisions should be made.”
“The bank has found another account,” she whispered. “A loan secured against the hotel. It was opened in your father's name shortly before he died.”
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“The signature looks real. The date is the problem. The medical records show he was unconscious that day.”
Across the room, Victoria watched them with a small, satisfied smile. She had one more secret, and she believed it was strong enough to bury the rest.
