Chapter 24
The board members practically ran for the elevators, their lucrative, corrupt careers shattered in less than five minutes.
Emily stood at the head of the table, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the sprawling city skyline. The eighty million dollars was finally, completely safe.
Arthur let out a long, shuddering breath.
“That was the most terrifyingly efficient corporate execution I have ever witnessed,” Arthur said, wiping his brow with a handkerchief.
Daniel laughed, a genuine sound of relief that seemed to banish the shadows from his eyes.
“Margaret used to spend hours manipulating them. You just broke them with one book.”
“Margaret played politics,” Emily replied, turning away from the window. “I don't play politics. I deal in absolute truth. It saves a tremendous amount of time.”
She walked over to the table and picked up the red ledger.
“Arthur, I want a complete audit of every charitable grant the foundation has supposedly funded over the last ten years. Find out who actually needed the money, and who was just receiving bribes. We are going to restructure this entire organization from the ground up.”
“What’s the primary focus of the new foundation?” Arthur asked, pulling out a legal pad to take notes.
Emily didn't hesitate. She had been thinking about this since the moment she realized her mother was locked in Brightwood.
“We are going to fund legal advocacy and private investigation teams for victims of medical and psychiatric abuse,” Emily declared. “We are going to find every single person who was hidden away by wealthy, powerful families, and we are going to tear their cages down.”
Daniel looked at Emily with profound awe. She was taking the absolute worst trauma of her life and forging it into a shield to protect others.
“It’s brilliant, Emily,” Daniel said softly.
“It’s necessary,” Emily corrected. She looked at her watch. “It’s time to go back to the mansion. My mother is waiting, and we have an important piece of trash to take out.”
Arthur frowned, confused. “Trash? We already cleared the board and the house staff.”
May you like
Emily smiled, a cold, predatory expression.
“Vanessa is being released on bail this afternoon. She thinks she’s coming back to the estate to pack her things. I want to be standing in the foyer when she arrives.”
