Chapter 15 - The Lowest Offer
Monday began with a demand letter.
The equipment lessor wanted immediate payment or control of critical machinery used at three plants.
The amount was large enough to disrupt the restricted payroll financing, but small enough to seem calculated rather than desperate.
"It's pressure," Daniel said.
"Yes," I replied, "and it may be enforceable."
The company's lawyers reviewed the cross-default provision while our team modeled ways to keep the plants running.
At nine, Malcolm sent his first direct proposal to me.
It offered to withdraw the advisory fee dispute, resolve the equipment claim, and support the financing if I signed a broad mutual release and allowed Vale Capital to remain as advisor.
There was also a confidentiality provision covering the circumstances of the aborted closing.
I read it once and handed it to Charlotte.
"No."
"I thought so."
"Not because I'm angry. Because it would put him back where he could do this again."
Charlotte nodded.
I had hoped the truth would make everything simple.
Instead, it had made every option painful.
If I refused, creditors might force drastic cuts.
If I accepted, I would help conceal a scheme built on coercion.
At ten-fifteen Adrian's attorney requested another call.
He said Adrian was prepared to cooperate in exchange for assurances about employment and his personal liability.
Charlotte explained that we could promise neither immunity nor a job.
I agreed to hear factual information, not to negotiate his consequences.
Adrian joined the call looking as though he hadn't slept.
"Malcolm told me the signature was routine," he said.
"Why did you give me a divorce agreement instead of asking?" I replied.
He looked at his hands.
"He said if you signed, the fee would be protected."
"And you were getting forty million."
He nodded.
My throat tightened.
"You were willing to strip me of everything for forty million dollars you hadn't earned."
"I didn't know it was your money."
There it was again.
The defense that exposed the crime of his conscience.
He wasn't sorry he'd tried to take it.
He was sorry he'd tried to take it from someone powerful enough to stop him.
I ended the call.
A few minutes later Detective Brooks informed Charlotte that new evidence could affect the investigation of the assault.
Adrian had made a recorded statement to a colleague before the incident.
The colleague had preserved it.
In it, Adrian allegedly said, "She'll sign if I make the cost of refusing high enough."
I closed my eyes.
The room swayed.
For days I'd wondered how much he had known.
May you like
Now the answer was narrowing around him.
