Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN WHO WALKED INTO THE BOARDROOM
The next morning, I entered Northbridge Technologies for the first time as its largest individual shareholder.
Ethan was already in the boardroom.
So was Maya.
She looked exhausted.
When she saw me, she stood.
“I owe you an apology.”
I nodded.
“You do.”
She swallowed.
“I should have told you about Grandma.”
“Yes.”
“I should have made Ethan call you.”
“Yes.”
“I thought because he was my boss, he knew how to handle everything.”
“He didn't.”
“I know.”
She looked at the floor.
“I never wanted your wedding ruined.”
“I believe you.”
Maya's eyes filled.
“Thank you.”
I sat down.
Ethan entered behind her.
He looked at the documents in my hands.
“You found the trust.”
“Yes.”
His face fell.
“Claire, listen.”
“No.”
I placed the documents on the table.
“You listen.”
The board members stared.
“I was told I owned ten percent.”
Ethan said nothing.
“The original agreement gave me thirty.”
Silence.
“Your company received my money.”
“Yes.”
“You altered my ownership.”
He looked down.
“Yes.”
“You used my family's network.”
“Yes.”
“You took money from the Hayes trust.”
His face changed.
“I didn't know it was yours.”
Adrian's attorney had warned me there would be a difference between proving intent and proving every action.
But I didn't need to argue.
The documents were enough.
Then Maya spoke.
“There is something else.”
Ethan looked at her.
“What?”
She placed a file on the table.
“I found this in the executive office.”
Ethan went pale.
I opened it.
Inside were emails between Ethan and his former attorney.
One line appeared repeatedly.
Claire cannot know about the trust.
Another:
If she marries Ethan, control becomes easier.
My hands went cold.
I looked at Ethan.
“You planned this.”
He shook his head.
“It wasn't like that.”
“It is exactly like that.”
“I loved you.”
“Maybe.”
His face crumpled.
“But you also saw me as an asset.”
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
I stood.
“I am not taking Northbridge from you.”
Everyone looked surprised.
“I am taking back what was mine.”
I pushed the documents forward.
“Those are different things.”
Ethan whispered,
“Then what happens to me?”
I looked at him.
“You finally have to live with what you built.”
He closed his eyes.
Maya stood.
“I resign.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
She turned to me.
“I should have left months ago.”
I nodded.
“I hope you do well.”
She walked out.
Then the board chair cleared his throat.
“There is one more matter.”
He placed a folder in front of me.
“The company has received a purchase proposal.”
“From whom?”
He slid the document forward.
HAYES GLOBAL INVESTMENTS.
I looked at Adrian.
He shook his head.
“I didn't authorize that.”
Charles, standing near the doorway, frowned.
“Neither did I.”
I picked up the document.
The signature looked authentic.
But Adrian's name had been forged.
Someone was trying to make it appear that Hayes Global intended to acquire Northbridge.
And if the deal went through, I could lose everything I had just recovered.
Ethan suddenly stood.
“I didn't do that.”
Nobody believed him.
Then he looked directly at me.
“Claire.”
“What?”
“I know who did.”
I stared.
“Who?”
Ethan looked toward the boardroom doors.
May you like
“Someone inside your family.”
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