Chapter 11 - The Vote That Never Happened
June convened an emergency trustee call at 8:22.
Adrian appeared from the courthouse. June joined from her office. Martin Cross joined from the family office, wearing a tie and the expression of a man inconvenienced by bad weather.
"The approvals are final," Martin said.
"No vote occurred," June answered.
"Unanimous written consent is permitted under the bylaws."
"Not when the signatures are disputed."
Adrian held up Evelyn's hospital statement.
"My mother rejects the transfer. I reject it. That leaves you with exactly zero lawful authority to claim unanimity."
Martin smiled without warmth.
"Your mother isn't competent to reject anything."
"An independent physician disagrees," June said. "And the court has ordered that her rights be preserved until review."
"This is a family disagreement," Martin replied.
Naomi leaned toward Adrian's microphone.
"No," she said. "This is the woman you frightened. The woman you told to sign before anyone found out."
Martin frowned. "Employees shouldn't be on this call."
"Neither should people submitting forged signatures," Adrian said.
For the first time, Martin looked away.
June recorded the objections and told the bank there was no valid unanimous consent.
At 8:31, a compliance officer confirmed the large scheduled payment had been stopped pending review.
Naomi exhaled. Adrian put his hands over his face.
Then the officer continued.
"There's a separate issue. The primary transfer was stopped, but a preliminary advisory payment cleared yesterday."
"How much?" June asked.
"Eight million six hundred thousand dollars. It was described as a nonrefundable transaction fee."
Martin's camera went dark.
Adrian stared at the empty square on the screen.
"Where did it go?"
The compliance officer said, "To Alder Bridge Services. We're tracing the receiving account."
May you like
Naomi remembered the same name on Owen's reimbursement list.
The person who had paid Dr. Wren had also received the money.
