Chapter 10: ## Chapter 10: The Boardroom Betrayal
By the: The Boardroom Betrayal
By the time Daniel and I reached Reed-Hale Construction, Richard time Daniel and I reached Reed-Hale Construction, Richard had already begun dismantling my had already begun dismantling my life's work.
Through the glass walls of the executive conference room, I could see eleven board life's work.
Through the glass walls of the executive conference room, I could see eleven board members seated around the long mahogany table. Richard stood at the head, members seated around the long mahogany table. Richard stood at the head, projecting a financial presentation onto the screen behind him.
My name appeared beside a heading that made my stomach projecting a financial presentation onto the screen behind him.
My name appeared beside a heading that made my stomach turn.
**SUCCESSION PLAN: TRANSITION OF MARCUS REED'S turn.
*SUCCESSION PLAN: TRANSITION OF MARCUS REED'S CONTROLLING INTEREST.*
I had built that company from a rented office with two employees and CONTROLLING INTEREST.**
I had built that company from a rented office with two employees and a secondhand printer. I had spent winters on construction sites, summers negotiating a secondhand printer. I had spent winters on construction sites, summers negotiating contracts, and countless nights studying spreadsheets while other people slept.
Now Richard contracts, and countless nights studying spreadsheets while other people slept.
Now Richard was presenting my disappearance as a business opportunity.
Daniel pushed open the conference room door was presenting my disappearance as a business opportunity.
Daniel pushed open the conference room door.
"Excuse me," he said.
"This meeting must be paused pending clarification of the disputed.
"Excuse me," he said.
"This meeting must be paused pending clarification of the disputed ownership documents.""
Richard turned slowly.
For a moment, his face revealed genuine surprise. ownership documents.""
Richard turned slowly.
For a moment, his face revealed genuine surprise. Then he smiled at the board members.
"Everyone, this is exactly the Then he smiled at the board members.
"Everyone, this is exactly the kind of disruption I warned you about.""
I rolled into the room.
"Good kind of disruption I warned you about.""
I rolled into the room.
"Good afternoon, Richard.""
Several people stood. Others afternoon, Richard.""
Several people stood. Others stared at me as though they had expected never to see me again.
Evel stared at me as though they had expected never to see me again.
Evelyn Price, our chief financial officer, hurried around the table.
"Marcus. Weyn Price, our chief financial officer, hurried around the table.
"Marcus. We heard you were recovering, but nobody told us you were coming today.""
" heard you were recovering, but nobody told us you were coming today.""
"Apparently, a great many things have been happening without anyone telling me.""
Her eyesApparently, a great many things have been happening without anyone telling me.""
Her eyes flicked toward the screen.
"Richard said you had agreed to step away from the company permanently flicked toward the screen.
"Richard said you had agreed to step away from the company permanently.""
"I did no such thing.""
Richard clicked his remote, bringing.""
"I did no such thing.""
Richard clicked his remote, bringing up a scanned document.
"Your signature is right here.""
I examined the page.
It was the same fraudulent up a scanned document.
"Your signature is right here.""
I examined the page.
It was the same fraudulent succession amendment Tiana had found in Ethan's messages. The original agreement beneath it was authentic, but the additional succession amendment Tiana had found in Ethan's messages. The original agreement beneath it was authentic, but the additional page had never been part of our contract.
"That's not my signature on an agreement page had never been part of our contract.
"That's not my signature on an agreement I authorized," I said.
"And I have never agreed to sell my controlling interest.""
Richard placed I authorized," I said.
"And I have never agreed to sell my controlling interest.""
Richard placed the remote on the table.
"Marcus, please. We don't need to turn this the remote on the table.
"Marcus, please. We don't need to turn this into a personal confrontation.""
"You've made it personal by trying to steal my company.""
A few board members exchanged uneasy into a personal confrontation.""
"You've made it personal by trying to steal my company.""
A few board members exchanged uneasy looks.
Richard folded his arms.
"You have been absent for months. The company needs leadership. Employees looks.
Richard folded his arms.
"You have been absent for months. The company needs leadership. Employees need stability.
Clients need confidence. I have been keeping this business alive while you recover.""
need stability. Clients need confidence. I have been keeping this business alive while you recover.""
"By diverting money to Northbridge Advisory?""
Evelyn's head snapped toward him"By diverting money to Northbridge Advisory?""
Evelyn's head snapped toward him.
"What money?""
Richard answered before I could.
"Administrative payments approved under existing agreements.""
"Which agreements?"" Evelyn asked.
Richard gave.
"What money?""
Richard answered before I could.
"Administrative payments approved under existing agreements.""
"Which agreements?"" Evelyn asked.
Richard gave her a sharp look.
"You're the CFO, Evelyn. Surely you understand that companies have her a sharp look.
"You're the CFO, Evelyn. Surely you understand that companies have consulting expenses.""
"I understand our consulting expenses very well. I have never seen Northbridge Advisory on an consulting expenses.""
"I understand our consulting expenses very well. I have never seen Northbridge Advisory on an approved vendor list.""
The room fell silent.
I looked at her.
"Can you confirm the payments approved vendor list.""
The room fell silent.
I looked at her.
"Can you confirm the payments?""
She opened her laptop.
"Give me a moment.""
Richard stepped toward?""
She opened her laptop.
"Give me a moment.""
Richard stepped toward her.
"This is not the time for an accounting exercise.""
Evelyn didn't look up.
" her.
"This is not the time for an accounting exercise.""
Evelyn didn't look up.
"Actually, it seems like the perfect time.""
She typed rapidly, then turned herActually, it seems like the perfect time.""
She typed rapidly, then turned her screen toward the board.
"Northbridge received four transfers over the last ten screen toward the board.
"Northbridge received four transfers over the last ten weeks. The total is $186,400.""
One of the directors, Thomas Bell weeks. The total is $186,400.""
One of the directors, Thomas Bell, leaned forward.
"What were the services provided?""
"There are no supporting, leaned forward.
"What were the services provided?""
"There are no supporting invoices in our system.""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"They were handled through a separate administrative channel.""
"Whose approval authorized invoices in our system.""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"They were handled through a separate administrative channel.""
"Whose approval authorized them?"" I asked.
Richard looked directly at me.
"Yours.""
"Prove it.""
He lifted them?"" I asked.
Richard looked directly at me.
"Yours.""
"Prove it.""
He lifted a folder from the table and extracted several pages.
"Here are the approvals a folder from the table and extracted several pages.
"Here are the approvals.""
Evelyn examined them.
Then she went completely still.
"What is it?"" Thomas.""
Evelyn examined them.
Then she went completely still.
"What is it?"" Thomas asked.
She placed the first page beside the succession amendment.
"The approval signature appears asked.
She placed the first page beside the succession amendment.
"The approval signature appears to have been copied from an older document.""
Richard's face hardened.
"That's an to have been copied from an older document.""
Richard's face hardened.
"That's an outrageous accusation.""
Evelyn looked at him.
"Then you should welcome an independent forensic outrageous accusation.""
Evelyn looked at him.
"Then you should welcome an independent forensic review.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"That is precisely what we are requesting. Until the authenticity review.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"That is precisely what we are requesting. Until the authenticity of these documents and the legitimacy of these payments can be established, no transaction affecting Mr. Reed's ownership interest should proceed.""
of these documents and the legitimacy of these payments can be established, no transaction affecting Mr. Reed's ownership interest should proceed.""
Richard turned to the board.
"You're going to let an outside attorneyRichard turned to the board.
"You're going to let an outside attorney dictate how this company operates?""
"No," Thomas replied.
"We're going to let evidence determine how this company operates.""
The dictate how this company operates?""
"No," Thomas replied.
"We're going to let evidence determine how this company operates.""
The words seemed to strike Richard harder than any accusation I had made.
He looked around the table, searching for support.
For words seemed to strike Richard harder than any accusation I had made.
He looked around the table, searching for support.
For thirty years, he had relied on loyalty. He had assumed that the people around him would accept thirty years, he had relied on loyalty. He had assumed that the people around him would accept his version of events because questioning him was uncomfortable.
Now they were beginning to question him anyway.
He changed tactics his version of events because questioning him was uncomfortable.
Now they were beginning to question him anyway.
He changed tactics.
"Let's remember that Marcus has been recovering from a serious accident. His condition.
"Let's remember that Marcus has been recovering from a serious accident. His condition has affected his ability to participate in daily operations. This amendment was designed to protect his interests and preserve has affected his ability to participate in daily operations. This amendment was designed to protect his interests and preserve the company.""
I wheeled closer to the table.
"Richard, look at the company.""
I wheeled closer to the table.
"Richard, look at me.""
He hesitated.
"Look at me and tell these people that you genuinely believed I had me.""
He hesitated.
"Look at me and tell these people that you genuinely believed I had agreed to this transfer.""
His eyes met mine.
I saw anger there, but also something else.
Fear.
"You agreed to this transfer.""
His eyes met mine.
I saw anger there, but also something else.
Fear.
"You need help," he said quietly.
"And you need a better lie.""
E need help," he said quietly.
"And you need a better lie.""
Evelyn closed her laptop.
"I move that the proposed transfer be suspended and that anvelyn closed her laptop.
"I move that the proposed transfer be suspended and that an independent forensic accountant review every payment to Northbridge Advisory.""
Thomas immediately seconded the motion.
Richard independent forensic accountant review every payment to Northbridge Advisory.""
Thomas immediately seconded the motion.
Richard struck the table with his palm.
"This is madness! You're jeopard struck the table with his palm.
"This is madness! You're jeopardizing ongoing projects!""
"No," Evelyn replied.
"We're protecting the company from potentiallyizing ongoing projects!""
"No," Evelyn replied.
"We're protecting the company from potentially unauthorized transactions.""
The board voted.
Eight in favor.
Two opposed.
Richard unauthorized transactions.""
The board voted.
Eight in favor.
Two opposed.
Richard's vote made eleven.
The transfer was suspended, and an independent review was authorized.
For the first time that's vote made eleven.
The transfer was suspended, and an independent review was authorized.
For the first time that day, I felt the pressure in my chest ease.
Then day, I felt the pressure in my chest ease.
Then Evelyn opened another file.
"There's something else the board needs to see.""
She projected Evelyn opened another file.
"There's something else the board needs to see.""
She projected a spreadsheet onto the wall.
It listed payments made by Reed-Hale Construction to several subcontractors over a spreadsheet onto the wall.
It listed payments made by Reed-Hale Construction to several subcontractors over the previous six months. Some entries were legitimate. Others had been routed through intermediary companies.
One company the previous six months. Some entries were legitimate. Others had been routed through intermediary companies.
One company appeared repeatedly.
Cole Development Group.
I recognized the name.
"Ethan's company?"" appeared repeatedly.
Cole Development Group.
I recognized the name.
"Ethan's company?"" I asked.
Evelyn nodded.
"Registered four months ago. It has received $312,000 from our accounts I asked.
Evelyn nodded.
"Registered four months ago. It has received $312,000 from our accounts under the description of project coordination.""
Thomas stared at the figures under the description of project coordination.""
Thomas stared at the figures.
"We don't have a contract with Cole Development Group.""
"Not one approved by this board," Evelyn replied.
Richard.
"We don't have a contract with Cole Development Group.""
"Not one approved by this board," Evelyn replied.
Richard stepped toward the screen.
"Those payments were part of a legitimate expansion arrangement.""
"Then where stepped toward the screen.
"Those payments were part of a legitimate expansion arrangement.""
"Then where are the deliverables?"" she asked.
He had no answer.
Daniel quietly wrote something in his notebook.
I watched are the deliverables?"" she asked.
He had no answer.
Daniel quietly wrote something in his notebook.
I watched Richard's expression shift from indignation to calculation. He was looking for a way out Richard's expression shift from indignation to calculation. He was looking for a way out, a new explanation, someone else to blame.
Then his phone buzz, a new explanation, someone else to blame.
Then his phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen.
Whatever he read made his face go pale.
He quickly turneded.
He glanced at the screen.
Whatever he read made his face go pale.
He quickly turned the phone facedown.
I noticed.
"So," I said, "what's happened now?""
"Nothing the phone facedown.
I noticed.
"So," I said, "what's happened now?""
"Nothing that concerns you.""
"That's interesting. You've spent months making decisions about my life. I that concerns you.""
"That's interesting. You've spent months making decisions about my life. I think I've earned the right to ask a question.""
Richard grabbed his folder.
"This meeting is over think I've earned the right to ask a question.""
Richard grabbed his folder.
"This meeting is over.""
Thomas shook his head.
"No. The meeting will continue under the chairmanship of the board's independent director..""
Thomas shook his head.
"No. The meeting will continue under the chairmanship of the board's independent director. You may leave if you wish.""
Richard stared at him.
"You cannot remove me from a You may leave if you wish.""
Richard stared at him.
"You cannot remove me from a meeting in my own company.""
"This is not your company, Richard.""
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Richard turned and meeting in my own company.""
"This is not your company, Richard.""
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Richard turned and walked out.
As he passed my wheelchair, he stopped.
"You think you've won," he whispered.
walked out.
As he passed my wheelchair, he stopped.
"You think you've won," he whispered.
I looked up at him.
"No. I think you've finally been forced to answer a fewI looked up at him.
"No. I think you've finally been forced to answer a few questions.""
He leaned closer.
"You have no idea what Ethan has already done.""
Before I could respond, questions.""
He leaned closer.
"You have no idea what Ethan has already done.""
Before I could respond, he continued down the corridor.
Daniel followed him with his eyes.
"Marcus, I don't he continued down the corridor.
Daniel followed him with his eyes.
"Marcus, I don't like that.""
"Neither do I.""
Evelyn approached us with a printed report.
"I'll preserve every relevant record and provide copies to your attorney like that.""
"Neither do I.""
Evelyn approached us with a printed report.
"I'll preserve every relevant record and provide copies to your attorney. But you need to understand something. These transfers aren't isolated. Whoever arranged them knew our internal.
But you need to understand something. These transfers aren't isolated. Whoever arranged them knew our internal approval procedures.""
"Could Richard have done that alone?""
"Possibly. But some of the payment approval procedures.""
"Could Richard have done that alone?""
"Possibly. But some of the payment instructions originated from outside the company's network.""
"From where?""
She hesitated.
"A personal device.""
instructions originated from outside the company's network.""
"From where?""
She hesitated.
"A personal device.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Tiana.
**Dad, I found something on Ethan's laptop. IMy phone vibrated.
A message from Tiana.
*Dad, I found something on Ethan's laptop. I think he's planning to leave the country.*
I called her immediately.
She answered on the first ring.
"Where are you?"" think he's planning to leave the country.**
I called her immediately.
She answered on the first ring.
"Where are you?"" I asked.
"At home. I went through the files he left in the spare I asked.
"At home. I went through the files he left in the spare room.""
"What did you find?""
"A travel itinerary, a list of bank accounts, and an room.""
"What did you find?""
"A travel itinerary, a list of bank accounts, and an email about transferring money overseas.""
"How much money?""
"I don't know yet email about transferring money overseas.""
"How much money?""
"I don't know yet.""
I gripped the phone.
"Tiana, don't touch anything else. Photograph what.""
I gripped the phone.
"Tiana, don't touch anything else. Photograph what you can without altering the files, then contact Daniel.""
"I already you can without altering the files, then contact Daniel.""
"I already sent him the email.""
"Good. Did Ethan say when he was leaving?""
She hesitated.
" sent him the email.""
"Good. Did Ethan say when he was leaving?""
She hesitated.
"Tonight.""
I looked at Daniel.
He had heard enough to understand.
"SendTonight.""
I looked at Daniel.
He had heard enough to understand.
"Send me the itinerary," he told her.
"We'll contact the appropriate authorities and preserve the evidence. Do not confront Ethan or attempt to stop him yourself.""
Tiana agreed me the itinerary," he told her.
"We'll contact the appropriate authorities and preserve the evidence. Do not confront Ethan or attempt to stop him yourself.""
Tiana agreed.
When the call ended, I looked through the glass wall toward the empty corridor.
Richard had tried to seize.
When the call ended, I looked through the glass wall toward the empty corridor.
Richard had tried to seize my company.
Ethan had apparently been preparing to disappear with money.
And somewhere between them my company.
Ethan had apparently been preparing to disappear with money.
And somewhere between them lay the truth about who had planned this betrayal from the beginning.
My phone buzzed again.
This time, the message came from an lay the truth about who had planned this betrayal from the beginning.
My phone buzzed again.
This time, the message came from an unfamiliar number.
**Your daughter is telling you only half the story. Ask her what she signed unfamiliar number.
*Your daughter is telling you only half the story. Ask her what she signed the night before your accident.*
I read it twice.
Then I turned toward Daniel.
"Something the night before your accident.**
I read it twice.
Then I turned toward Daniel.
"Something happened the night before my accident," I said.
He studied my face.
"What makes you think that?""
I showed happened the night before my accident," I said.
He studied my face.
"What makes you think that?""
I showed him the message.
He read it carefully.
"Don't assume it's true. But him the message.
He read it carefully.
"Don't assume it's true. But we need to investigate it.""
I stared at the words on the screen.
For months, I had believed my accident marked the beginning of my family's collapse.
Now I wondered whether someone had been preparing for it long before I ever got we need to investigate it.""
I stared at the words on the screen.
For months, I had believed my accident marked the beginning of my family's collapse.
Now I wondered whether someone had been preparing for it long before I ever got behind the wheel.
And if the message was genuine, Tiana might have been behind the wheel.
May you like
And if the message was genuine, Tiana might have been involved in something far more serious than the fraudulent documents we had already uncovered.
involved in something far more serious than the fraudulent documents we had already uncovered.
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