Chapter 12 - THE CONTROL VOTE
If Marcus remained fit, he controlled it.
If he was suspended, the secondary guardian stepped in.
Victoria.
Or the person legally recognized as Victoria.
Long enough to move billions.
Ethan traced pending resolutions.
Three asset sales.
Two debt issuances.
One merger.
All triggered if the trust block changed hands.
Buyer:
Crest Strategic Capital.
Julian.
"The pool was timed for the vote."
"Sofia was never just leverage."
"She was a switch."
The word made him sick.
Aaron Pike traced his car to Vale Holdings headquarters.
No response.
Then the fire alarm triggered.
Smoke rose from the records floor.
Samuel was burning documents.
Employees evacuated.
Sprinklers flooded the marble lobby.
"You should have left this alone."
"You covered my wife's murder."
"You don't know that."
"I know enough."
"Adriana would have destroyed everything your grandfather built."
"Maybe it deserved to be destroyed."
Samuel raised a lighter.
Police shouted.
He dropped it.
Fire raced across spilled fuel.
Sprinklers activated harder.
Aaron tackled him in the stairwell.
Inside were original board minutes.
Victor Vale.
Samuel Vale.
Julian Crest.
Two others.
Marcus was absent.
He had been working in London.
He still benefited from the silence.
That mattered.
Dated two days after Adriana's death.
Motion: appoint Paul Renner as family behavioral consultant.
Proposed by Samuel.
Approved by Victor.
His father had installed Renner inside the family after Adriana died.
"Why?"
Handwritten note:
MARCUS BLAMES HIMSELF. KEEP IT THAT WAY.
Then his phone rang.
His father.
Victor Vale.
Alive.
Healthy.
Still chairman emeritus.
"Marcus."
"What?"
"You need to stop."
"No."
May you like
"If you keep digging, you will lose Sofia."
Then said, "You already tried."
