Chapter 11 - THE BOARDROOM
Cameras flashed outside.
“Is the child yours?”
“Did Grace Bennett kidnap your daughter?”
“Are you stepping down?”
In the boardroom, Victoria sat in his chair.
Half the directors avoided Nathan’s eyes.
The chairman cleared his throat.
“Nathan, this is an emergency.”
“I’m glad you came.”
“Get up.”
Instead, she slid a document across the table.
Giving Victoria temporary control if Nathan became “personally compromised by a family scandal threatening corporate stability.”
“I never signed this.”
Conrad said, “Your signature is notarized.”
Hale took the document.
“Forgery.”
The chairman looked miserable.
“Until proven otherwise, we have to treat it as valid.”
Grace whispered, “This was the plan.”
Nathan saw something cold in her eyes.
“You never look at my daughter like that again.”
The room went silent.
“Your daughter?”
“Do it.”
Hale placed the sealed letter and trust records on the table.
“Based on newly discovered documents, Lily Bennett appears to be Nathan Cole’s presumptive biological child and beneficiary under the Cole Descendant Trust.”
Directors started whispering.
Conrad’s face darkened.
“I’m ordering a DNA test today.”
Victoria said, “And if she is yours?”
“Then the trust activates.”
The chairman frowned.
“That changes voting control.”
“Yes.”
“Significantly.”
“Yes.”
“You’re willing to collapse a merger worth billions over an unverified child?”
“You tried to erase her before she was born.”
Hale connected a laptop to the board screen.
The old video played.
Conrad’s younger voice filled the room.
No child, no problem.
Every director heard it.
“Turn that off.”
The video showed her entering.
Grace squeezed Lily’s hand.
Conrad shouted, “This is privileged material!”
“No. This is the foundation you built your deal on.”
The chairman whispered, “Nathan, if this becomes public—”
“It will.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I already sent it to the press.”
May you like
Conrad lunged across the table.
And three directors stood with him.
