The Boardroom Betrayal
Chapter 09 - The Boardroom Betrayal
Charles entered the boardroom believing he had already won.
Six directors supported him.
Three supported Richard.
The remaining two were undecided.
Richard arrived alone.
Or so Charles thought.
The meeting began.
Charles spoke carefully about Richard's recent "emotional instability."
He mentioned the mysterious man who had appeared at the store.
The supposed granddaughter.
The sudden accusations.
Then the boardroom doors opened.
Ethan walked in.
Beside him was Lily.
Richard immediately stood.
"I told you not to bring her here."
Ethan shook his head.
"I didn't."
Lily had insisted.
She walked toward Richard carrying her teddy bear.
Charles stared at her.
Lily looked around the enormous table.
"Which one is Uncle Charles?"
The room went silent.
Charles forced a smile.
"Why?"
Lily reached inside the opening Ethan had carefully made in the teddy bear.
She removed a tiny USB drive.
"My mommy said this was for him."
Charles's face changed.
Ethan had never seen the drive before.
Neither had Richard.
They connected it to the boardroom screen.
Emma appeared.
The video had been recorded two months before her death.
Thin.
Pale.
But unmistakably herself.
"My name is Emma Hale Cole."
Richard covered his mouth.
"I am recording this because I may not live long enough to tell the truth myself."
Charles stood.
"This meeting is over."
No one moved.
Emma continued.
"Uncle Charles, you took twenty-three years from me."
The board members turned toward him.
May you like
Then Emma said the words Charles had feared for decades.
"And I kept everything."
