Chapter 13 - THE BOARD VOTE
Sterling Holdings had an emergency board meeting at nine.
The Caldwell bank had withdrawn preliminary financing after Vanessa left the ballroom humiliated.
One called the Noah video a “governance crisis.”
I watched from the breakfast room while Alexander took the meeting upstairs.
“What’s governance?”
“Adults making simple things sound expensive.”
I think you need to know why I agreed to attend last night.
Ten minutes later, Claire arrived at the service entrance in jeans and a baseball cap.
Nothing like the woman in white from the ballroom.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“For what?”
“For participating.”
She explained Eleanor had told each woman something different.
Vanessa believed Alexander had privately favored her.
Madeline was told Noah had asked to meet her.
Claire was told the event was a low-key family dinner where Noah could spend time with people his father was already considering dating.
“I arrived and saw cameras.”
“Why didn’t you leave?”
She looked ashamed. “Cowardice.”
“Eleanor sent this to my father.”
STERLING-CALDWELL FAMILY ALIGNMENT.
It listed business benefits if Alexander married Vanessa.
Financing. Foundation partnerships. Board support.
CHILD ACCEPTANCE EVENT CREATES PUBLIC FAMILY NARRATIVE.
Claire said, “Your instincts were right. Noah was part of the transaction.”
Then he looked into the camera. “Who has seen this?”
He muted the call. “Mother.”
“Did you circulate this?”
“Yes.”
“Meeting adjourned.”
Alexander cut him off. “No. If the board believes my five-year-old son is a corporate asset, then we have a larger governance problem than financing.”
Then his general counsel called back immediately.
Alexander answered. Listened. His face changed.
May you like
“What?”
“They filed a motion to remove me as CEO.”
