Chapter 10 - The Price of Aldercrest
Aldercrest owed forty-three million dollars.
Nathan had known the number.
He had not known how fragile it was.
Charles did.
As acting executive chairman, Charles notified the bank that Olivia’s death investigation and Nathan’s assault case created “material instability.”
The lender froze the club’s revolving credit line.
Payroll was due Friday.
Rebecca spread documents across Evelyn’s dining table.
“Charles is forcing you to choose.”
“Between what?”
“Control and insolvency.”
Nathan stared at the numbers.
“If I resign?”
“Charles says he can secure a new loan.”
“With whose money?”
“Northstar Residential.”
Nathan laughed.
“The land buyer.”
“Yes.”
“He still plans to sell.”
“Yes.”
“And now Olivia is legally dead.”
Rebecca nodded.
The Bennett founder interest would pass to Ethan.
But probate had not occurred.
Until then, Charles intended to argue that the old covenant was unenforceable or that Olivia had already waived it.
“The forged approval,” Nathan said.
Rebecca nodded.
“He’ll use it.”
“We can stop him.”
“In court, maybe.”
“How fast?”
“Not necessarily before Friday.”
Sarah entered with coffee.
Nathan looked at her.
“You don’t work here anymore.”
“I work for Ethan’s grandmother this week.”
Evelyn called from the kitchen.
“She does.”
Sarah sat.
“I found something before Keller locked me in.”
“What?”
“Member capital assessments.”
Nathan frowned.
Sarah explained.
For six years, Aldercrest members had paid annual capital-improvement assessments.
The board claimed the money funded renovations.
But some accounts did not match.
“How much?”
“Eight million missing.”
Nathan looked toward Rebecca.
“Charles?”
“Possibly.”
Sarah handed over printed emails.
“Olivia asked me for these too.”
Nathan stared.
“You knew she was investigating more than the locker.”
“I knew pieces.”
“Why did everyone trust my ex-wife more than me?”
Sarah met his eyes.
“Do you really want the polite answer?”
“No.”
“You had power.”
Nathan frowned.
“That should make people tell me things.”
“No. It made people afraid you’d use power before listening.”
Silence.
Sarah continued.
“Olivia listened.”
Nathan looked down.
Another lesson from a dead woman.
Rebecca traced the assessment funds overnight.
Three million went to legitimate projects.
Five million flowed through construction vendors connected to Charles.
Two board members received “consulting distributions.”
The same two who voted to suspend Nathan.
“We can challenge the board vote,” Rebecca said.
“Do it.”
“We also need emergency financing.”
Nathan looked at his mother.
Evelyn had inherited significant wealth separately from Aldercrest.
She shook her head before he asked.
“No.”
Nathan stared.
“You haven’t heard—”
“I know what you’re going to ask.”
“We could lose the club.”
“Yes.”
“Dad built—”
“Your father worshiped that building.”
Nathan flinched.
Evelyn continued.
“He called neglect ‘sacrifice’ whenever family interrupted business.”
Nathan looked away.
“I am not giving forty million dollars to a system that protected Charles.”
“Then Aldercrest could fail.”
“Maybe it should.”
Ethan stood unnoticed in the hallway.
“Dad?”
Nathan turned.
“Are we going to lose the club?”
“I don’t know.”
“Was it Mom’s too?”
“Part of the land rights came from her family.”
Ethan thought.
“Then don’t let bad people have it.”
Nathan almost smiled.
“That’s the problem. Saving it may require bad choices.”
Ethan frowned.
“Mom said if you cheat to win, you still cheated.”
Nathan looked at Evelyn.
“Where did he hear that?”
“Olivia.”
Of course.
That afternoon Veronica’s lawyer contacted Rebecca.
Veronica wanted to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for consideration.
“She has evidence Charles forged the Bennett waiver,” Rebecca said.
“What does she want from me?”
“Nothing.”
Nathan looked suspicious.
“She specifically said she doesn’t want you involved in negotiations.”
“Why?”
Rebecca paused.
“Maybe because she finally understands you are not the person who decides her consequences.”
That landed.
Prosecutors met Veronica.
She provided access to Meridian accounts.
Emails.
A secret recording.
The recording was dated nine months before Olivia disappeared.
Charles’s voice:
“Once Olivia’s vote is gone, Nathan signs whatever protects Aldercrest.”
Veronica:
“He won’t sell if he thinks Ethan loses the west woods.”
Charles laughed.
“Then we make him think he’s saving the club.”
Nathan shut off the audio.
“How many times did he say that to me?”
Rebecca answered, “Enough.”
Veronica also revealed that Charles maintained a private safe-deposit box at Hanover Trust.
Police obtained a warrant.
Inside were forged Bennett approvals.
Original Northstar side agreements.
Cash.
And a handwritten list.
The top line read:
OLIVIA — RESOLVE BEFORE CLOSING.
Below:
NATHAN — CONTROL THROUGH DEBT.
And:
ETHAN — SUCCESSOR ISSUE.
Nathan stared at his son’s name.
Charles had been thinking about Ethan as a legal obstacle.
Not a child.
A problem.
Then Rebecca noticed a notation beside Ethan’s entry.
417 CARD NOT RECOVERED.
Nathan finally understood the storm.
Veronica had not lost control randomly.
Charles needed the card.
The card proved Ethan had possession of the original founder credential and strengthened the chain of succession.
Veronica had been searching his satchel under orders.
Nathan looked at the green umbrella Ethan had left drying by Evelyn’s door.
One ordinary rainy afternoon had almost ended with Olivia’s final protection being thrown away.
Rebecca’s phone rang.
She answered.
Her expression darkened.
“What now?” Nathan asked.
“The bank scheduled a foreclosure hearing.”
“When?”
“Forty-eight hours.”
Nathan stood.
Rebecca continued.
“And Charles filed a petition asking probate court to appoint him temporary administrator of Olivia’s founder interest.”
Nathan stared.
“On what basis?”
“He claims neutrality.”
Sarah laughed out loud.
May you like
Nathan did not.
Because if Charles obtained temporary control over Olivia’s rights, he could sign the land sale himself.
