Chapter 12 - The Secret Succession
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Arthur slumped back in his chair, staring at Evelyn with a mixture of awe and profound sorrow.
“You want to execute him in public,” Arthur whispered.
“I want him to have every opportunity to tell the truth,” Evelyn corrected coldly. “If he chooses to lie to the board, the investors, and his family, then he executes himself.”
Arthur remained silent for a long time. Then, he reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a manila envelope sealed with red wax. He tossed it onto the coffee table.
“I suppose you both deserve the full truth, then,” Arthur said heavily.
Evelyn frowned, picking up the envelope. “What is this?”
“Eighteen months ago, right after my surgery, I commissioned an independent succession review,” Arthur explained, his voice tired. “The board assumed Ethan was the heir apparent. But I had doubts. I hired an outside firm to evaluate his leadership.”
Evelyn opened the file. The executive summary was brutal. While praising Ethan’s charm and sales numbers, the analysts shredded his operational competency. They cited severe risks in his financial discipline and strategic oversight.
“The board quietly agreed that Ethan wasn't ready to be CEO,” Arthur confessed. “That’s why I’ve been delaying his promotion. Vanessa convinced him I was just a jealous old man clinging to power. But the truth is, the board didn't trust him to run the empire.”
Then Arthur pointed to a second document in the folder.
“I also sent them the data from Project Lantern, heavily redacted to hide the author,” Arthur continued. “I asked them to evaluate the architect of the turnaround.”
Evelyn read the second page. The analysts had glowing praise for the creator of Lantern, calling the operational strategy "genius" and recommending the author be immediately installed as Chief Operating Officer.
“I was going to offer you the job, Evie,” Arthur said quietly.
Evelyn closed the folder. She felt no triumph, only a deep, aching tragedy for the family she was about to burn down.
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“I won’t take Ethan’s job just because he failed,” Evelyn said firmly.
“It was never his job,” Arthur replied, his eyes narrowing. “That’s what he never understood. And on Saturday night, the whole world is going to find out.”
