The Boardroom Ambush
Chapter 15 - The Boardroom Ambush
Harbor Meridian Group called an emergency meeting.
Their executives claimed they had acted in good faith based on documents provided by Evan.
Laura arrived with Dana, Beth, Miles, and a forensic accountant.
Richard Cole sat at the far end of the table.
He looked irritated rather than nervous.
"We have a signed option agreement," he said.
Dana placed the forensic report beside it.
"You have a forged signature."
Cole's attorney objected.
Then Miles presented hotel records showing repeated meetings between Cole and Evan at the Seabriar Resort.
Laura added email metadata connecting the fake Laura Bennett account to an IP address used by Evan's consulting firm.
Cole's irritation disappeared.
But the final blow came from Marisol.
She entered the room with her attorney and handed over a copy of a voice memo she had made weeks earlier after becoming suspicious.
In it, Evan discussed keeping Laura "comfortable until the authority papers are signed."
He also mentioned Cole by name.
Cole's attorney immediately requested a recess.
The meeting never resumed.
Within forty-eight hours, Harbor Meridian withdrew from the land deal and began cooperating through counsel.
The forged option was formally challenged.
Accounts tied to Evan's consulting company were frozen pending litigation.
Laura walked out of Dana's office into bright afternoon sunlight.
Emma was waiting on the sidewalk.
"Did we win?"
Laura smiled faintly.
"We stopped one thing. That's not the same as winning."
Emma hugged her.
"It feels like winning."
May you like
Laura held her daughter close.
For the first time, it did.
