Chapter 14 - The Board Meeting

Adrian wanted to cancel the meeting.

Grant advised against it.

"If Marcus expects you to run, make him adjust. People make mistakes when plans change."

So Adrian went.

Cole Holdings occupied forty floors downtown. The board gathered on the thirty-ninth, where Richard Cole's portrait still hung above the conference table.

Maria stayed with Oliver in a secure location.

Vanessa remained in custody.

At 9:00 a.m., Adrian opened the meeting.

At 9:07, three board members received anonymous emails accusing Adrian of instability, financial misconduct, and endangering his own child.

At 9:10, forged medical records appeared online.

At 9:13, the company's stock halted after a flood of automated sell orders.

Marcus wasn't attacking Adrian physically.

He was trying to remove him as CEO.

Grant traced the leak to an internal legal administrator named Stephen Pike, who had worked at the company for twenty-two years.

Security brought Pike into the conference room.

He was sweating.

"Marcus said he had documents proving Mr. Cole was unfit," Pike stammered. "He said the board would remove him anyway."

"Where is Marcus?" Adrian asked.

Pike shook his head.

Then every screen in the conference room turned on.

Marcus appeared by video.

"Good morning," he said.

Board members erupted.

Marcus smiled.

"Adrian, your father built something extraordinary. You inherited it. I protected it."

"You murdered my wife."

Marcus's smile faded.

"Claire was never supposed to die. She was supposed to be frightened. Vanessa panicked."

Adrian leaned toward the camera. "You touched the brakes."

"And she drove anyway. Life is full of choices."

Grant whispered, "Keep him talking."

Adrian did.

"Why Oliver?"

Marcus's eyes sharpened.

"Because your son locked the trust. Once he existed, you became untouchable unless you died too."

The room went silent.

Adrian said, "You just confessed in front of the entire board."

Marcus shrugged.

"Only if I plan to be around for the trial."

Behind him, a clock chimed.

Grant stared at the audio waveform.

"I know that clock," he whispered.

Adrian looked at him.

"Where?"

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Grant's face went pale.

"Your mansion."