Chapter 13 - THE THREE DIRECTORS
Paul Kenner arrived at 7:04 a.m. with his attorney.
He confessed before he sat down.
Ethan had paid him $250,000 through a “strategy advisory contract” to support leadership changes after the wedding.
“I told myself it was consulting,” Paul said.
“You’re a director. You knew better.”
“Yes.”
“Who else?”
Together, the three directors represented exactly the swing votes Ethan needed.
Daniel immediately froze their access pending investigation.
“There’s something else.”
“Ethan said the meeting wasn’t really about removing you.”
“What was it about?”
“Approving a poison-pill waiver.”
If the waiver passed, the hidden buyer could accumulate a controlling stake without triggering the company’s anti-takeover protections.
“Can they do it without me?”
“Not if we invalidate the forged proxies before the meeting.”
“Then do it.”
“We need a court order or a board finding.”
“Fifty-two minutes.”
Robert arrived under police escort.
He walked into the room, saw Claire, and stopped.
For a second, the corporate war disappeared.
Claire looked back at the father she barely knew.
Robert said her name once.
“Claire.”
“Not now.”
Then Robert turned to her.
“I’m sorry.”
Mary wanted to say a hundred things.
She chose the one that mattered.
“Did you sign any proxy for Ethan today?”
“No.”
“Will you testify to that?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We can use that.”
At 7:31, the company’s outside judge granted an emergency hearing by video.
At 7:44, Robert testified.
At 7:51, the judge temporarily enjoined use of the disputed proxy.
Then the boardroom doors opened.
Susan Hale walked in with Martin Cho.
And between them stood Ethan.
“Perfect,” he said. “Everyone’s here.”
“You’re suspended. Leave.”
Ethan set a folder on the table.
“No.”
“Because you forgot one thing.”
“What?”
May you like
He tapped the folder.
“You don’t own the shares you think you own.”
