CHAPTER 26: THE VOTE THAT COULD END THE COMPANY
The Northbridge deed had never been properly registered.
Elizabeth had prepared it, signed it and placed it into an independent escrow account.
But the final filing required confirmation from one representative of the victims’ families.
No one had completed it.
Eleanor Vale was the last surviving person named as family representative.
Khloe visited her before the emergency vote.
“You want me to save your company,” Eleanor said.
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I want you to decide what happens to it.”
Khloe explained the deed.
If Eleanor registered it, the Northbridge families would gain temporary control of Meridian.
They could block Rourke.
They could also dissolve Cole Urban Development, sell its assets and use the money to compensate the victims.
“You would surrender control?” Eleanor asked.
“It was never legally mine alone.”
“And the children’s center?”
“It may be sold.”
“Your home?”
“Possibly.”
“Your daughter’s inheritance?”
Khloe looked toward the photograph of Michael Vale.
“Hope should not inherit something built on another child losing his father.”
Eleanor said nothing.
At the forty-ninth-floor boardroom, Rourke began the emergency meeting.
Khloe sat beside Emma and Martin.
Harrison watched from the public gallery.
He no longer had voting authority.
Ava attended as Samuel Ruiz’s legal heir, but Rourke’s attorneys challenged her claim.
The first vote was called.
Eleven trustees supported Rourke.
Ten opposed him.
Two remained undecided.
Rourke needed one more vote.
He turned toward Khloe.
“You can end this uncertainty. Resign, and I will guarantee the center remains open.”
“You set fire to it.”
“An accusation without proof.”
“You kidnapped Rebecca.”
“Another accusation.”
“You spent decades teaching frightened people to mistake your control for safety.”
Rourke leaned closer.
“And what will your truth give them? Unemployment? Lost pensions? Empty homes?”
Khloe stood.
“It will give them a choice.”
She activated the conference screen.
Daniel’s entire confession began playing.
Employees throughout the company watched through the internal broadcast system.
Daniel admitted his role in Northbridge.
He admitted concealing Samuel’s death.
He admitted allowing Rourke to alter Meridian.
The company’s stock fell before the recording ended.
Banks suspended additional accounts.
Rourke smiled.
“You have destroyed your own company.”
“No,” Khloe said. “I removed the weapon you were using against it.”
The board prepared for the final vote.
One undecided trustee supported Rourke.
The count became twelve to ten.
Only one vote remained.
The conference room doors opened.
Eleanor Vale entered carrying Elizabeth’s original deed.
Rourke’s face changed for the first time.
Eleanor sat in the final trustee’s chair.
“You think a dead man’s widow understands business?” Rourke asked.
“No,” Eleanor replied. “But I understand the price of silence.”
She placed the deed on the table.
Then she cast her vote.
Not for Khloe.
Not for Rourke.
Eleanor voted to suspend the entire board and transfer Meridian’s authority to the Northbridge families.
The company’s legal counsel reviewed the document.
After several minutes, he looked up.
“The deed appears valid.”
Rourke stood.
“It was never registered.”
“It can be registered today.”
“No.”
His voice was no longer calm.
He reached for the document.
Ava blocked him.
Rourke stared at her.
“You have no idea what your grandfather did.”
“He tried to tell the truth.”
“He caused the collapse.”
Ava froze.
Rourke opened his briefcase and removed a sealed engineering report.
It bore Samuel Ruiz’s signature.
According to the report, Samuel had personally approved the defective supports.
Rourke looked around the room.
“Elizabeth protected Samuel’s family because she knew Daniel had falsely blamed me.”
Khloe examined the report.
May you like
If it was authentic, the entire Northbridge story had changed again.
And Elizabeth’s secret deed might have transferred Meridian to the family of the man responsible for fourteen deaths.
