Chapter 16 - The Vote
Robert Jr. did not look surprised to see me.
He looked disappointed.
"Ava," he said, "you're making a mistake."
"Get in line. I've heard that from richer men."
One of his lawyers handed documents to the board secretary.
"Sterling Capital is exercising lender protections under the Cross Harbor revolving facility. Effective immediately, Ms. Cross's voting authority over pledged securities is suspended."
Maya Chen went pale.
"They can't do that without a default."
"They declared one this morning."
The room erupted.
Robert sat across from me.
"Sell the Whitmore shares. Walk away with four hundred million dollars."
"You think this is about money?"
"Everything becomes about money when enough of it is at risk."
"That's what your father believed."
His face tightened.
Dana Ruiz entered through the back doors with two federal agents.
That finally changed his expression.
"Robert Sterling Jr.," she said, "do not leave the building."
His lawyers stood at once.
I almost enjoyed it.
Almost.
But we still had the vote.
Our counsel argued the lender suspension was invalid because the alleged default was based on fabricated evidence. The board chair ruled my voting authority remained intact pending review.
Names were called.
Yes.
No.
Abstain.
When the count ended, the motion to place me on leave failed by one vote.
Robert stared at me.
"You think you won?"
"No. I think I survived the meeting."
Twenty minutes later, we moved to the Whitmore Maritime board vote aboard VALOR.
This one mattered more.
The resolution removed Richard as executive chairman, appointed an independent committee, and gave me temporary control as majority voting shareholder.
Richard voted for it.
Celeste cried when he did.
Evan did not.
When the final tally passed, Captain Hale quietly closed the salon doors.
I was now in control of the company built from my father's stolen assets.
Then our general counsel hurried toward me with a tablet.
"Ava, Sterling filed for an emergency injunction in federal court."
"On what grounds?"
She turned the screen.
The filing included a document I had never seen.
May you like
A signed confession from my father.
It said Daniel Cross had ordered the fraudulent transfers himself.
