Chapter 15 - THE VOTE THEY THOUGHT WAS BOUGHT
Emergency crews released Claire and Mara from the underground archive two hours later.
Arthur Vale disappeared before police could question him.
The next morning, Victor called an emergency board meeting.
News of the missing money had reached the press. Rowan Meridian’s lenders were demanding answers, and three directors publicly blamed Claire for failing to detect the transfers.
Victor proposed removing her as chief executive until the investigation ended.
He needed seven votes.
He already controlled six.
Before the meeting, Claire received anonymous copies of private messages showing that Victor had promised board positions and investment payments to several directors.
Mara wanted to release the messages immediately.
Claire refused.
“If we expose them before the vote, they’ll deny everything.”
“So we let them remove you?”
“We let them reveal themselves.”
The boardroom was crowded when Victor presented his motion.
One director after another criticized Claire’s leadership. Men who had praised her reforms only weeks earlier now claimed employee ownership had weakened the company.
The vote began.
Six directors supported Victor.
Two opposed him.
Claire cast the ninth vote against her own removal.
Victor smiled.
“The employee trust controls the final two votes,” he said. “Its representatives have agreed to abstain.”
The doors opened.
Thirty factory workers entered behind employee trustee Rosa Delgado.
Rosa placed a signed resolution on the table.
“We did not agree to abstain.”
She turned toward the directors.
“We voted this morning. Ninety-three percent of employee shareholders rejected Mr. Hale’s motion.”
Victor’s smile vanished.
The proposal failed.
Claire remained chief executive.
But as the meeting ended, Rosa quietly handed Claire a note.
Arthur Vale had contacted the employee trust.
He wanted to confess.
May you like
His condition was simple.
Claire had to meet him alone.
