Chapter 16 - The Trap Snaps Shut
|
Evelyn’s pulse remained perfectly steady. She had rehearsed this moment in her mind a hundred times, but the reality was far colder than she anticipated.
“Do you believe I’ve never built anything here?” Evelyn asked, her voice echoing in the sudden, suffocating silence of the room.
Ethan smiled, a cruel, dismissive smirk. It was the smile of a man who believed he was utterly untouchable.
“Evelyn, you’re useless to what this family needs right now.”
The word hit the room like a physical blow. A wealthy investor’s wife gasped out loud. Robert Keller looked utterly appalled.
Ethan, oblivious to the horrified reactions, kept digging his grave. “You never built anything important inside Hale Crest. You just organize the mess real leaders make.”
That was when Arthur Hale finally moved.
“Say it again.”
Arthur’s command froze the room. He slammed his palm against the walnut wood, the crack echoing like thunder.
“If you are going to sit at my table, drink my wine, and insult the woman who kept this company alive, then you better explain yourself before I throw you out of my house,” Arthur roared.
Ethan stared at his father, his arrogant smirk melting into genuine confusion. “What are you talking about?”
Arthur ignored him, turning his piercing gaze to the CFO. “Martin. Bring up the Lantern file.”
Ethan’s face twitched. Only slightly, but Evelyn saw it. So did Vanessa. The PR executive’s tan suddenly looked a shade lighter.
Martin Shaw bent down, lifted the black leather folder from the floor, and simultaneously pressed a button on a remote.
A massive projector screen, previously displaying the Hale Crest 40th anniversary logo, flickered to life behind Arthur.
On the screen, two massive words appeared: PROJECT LANTERN.
Ethan tried to recover his composure, forcing a chuckle. “Dad, I’ve seen that name. It’s the recovery data. I used it in my investor presentation.”
“You used half of it,” Arthur growled. “The half you stole. Before you take credit for the sunrise, let me show the board who actually built the sun.”
Martin clicked the remote.
The first slide appeared. It wasn't the polished, marketing-heavy presentation Vanessa had designed. It was a raw, undeniable corporate audit.
Title: Supplier Restructuring & Liquidity Preservation.
Author: Evelyn Hale.
May you like
Timestamp: Fourteen months ago.
Ethan stared at the massive screen, his mouth slightly open. The blood began to drain from his face.
