He sent her away.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“You were a junior housemaid.
You had no knowledge of family matters.”
“I knew what I saw.”
Nathaniel studied the man who had become his mentor after Charles died.
Victor had taught him that loyalty was measured by usefulness and that sentiment made executives weak.
Nathaniel had believed him because Victor had been the only adult who remained beside him through the funeral, the lawsuits, and the brutal first years of leadership.
Now Nathaniel understood that staying close had given Victor access to everything.
Including secrets.
Rebecca continued reading the trust language.
“The shares were placed under an independent fiduciary structure.
Mateo was entitled to the income, but the voting rights could be exercised only for his protection or the protection of his lawful descendants.
After his death, Elena became Lily’s temporary guardian for trust purposes, subject to confirmation by the court.”
“How many shares?” Nathaniel asked.
“Eight percent of Cross Meridian’s voting class.”
One board member finally looked up.
Victor controlled a bloc of directors, but he did not own enough stock to remove Nathaniel without support from several family and institutional holdings.
Eight percent would prevent him from claiming an uncontested majority.
Victor seemed to calculate the same thing.
“These documents have not been authenticated,” he said.
“Until they are, Nathaniel remains medically incapable of leading this company.”
“I was diagnosed this morning,” Nathaniel replied.
“You arrived with resignation papers before lunch.
That tells me you were prepared before the board was informed.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“I prepared for every possibility.
That is why your father trusted me.”
“My father created a trust you never mentioned.”
“Your father made many emotional mistakes near the end of his life.”
Elena flinched, but Nathaniel remained still.
“Call the court archive,” he told Rebecca.
Victor stepped toward him.
“You are not thinking clearly.”
Nathaniel placed his hand over the resignation folder.
“For fifteen years, you told me never to sign while someone was rushing me.”
He slid the papers back across the table.
“I finally listened.”
Victor’s control cracked.
“You will destroy everything your father built.”
“No,” Nathaniel said.
“I’m going to find out what you buried beneath it.”
His phone rang before Victor could answer.
Dr.
Cole’s name appeared on the screen.
Nathaniel stepped away from the table and answered.
The doctor was not calling with a donor heart, as the tense room briefly assumed.
He had called because Nathaniel’s latest monitor showed a dangerous rhythm disturbance.
Nathaniel needed to come to the hospital immediately.
“I have a meeting,” Nathaniel said.
“You have a failing heart.
The meeting can survive without you.”
Nathaniel looked toward Lily.
She was watching him with the same serious expression she had worn while wiping away his tears.
“Go,” she said.
