Chapter 17 - The Ballroom Vote
The ballroom that had held four hundred wedding guests now held forty-two shareholders, attorneys, investigators, and board representatives.
Federal agents watched from adjacent rooms through live security feeds.
No one announced that.
Simon believed he controlled the meeting.
That was important.
Abigail Reese opened proceedings.
“Before any vote, the board requires disclosure of all conflicts associated with the proposed Bellmere transaction.”
Simon leaned back.
“My counsel has already provided them.”
Nathan stood.
“No. Your counsel provided a representation that Northlake Urban Partners is independent.”
“It is.”
Marcus looked at Simon.
“Then why did your personal holding company fund its initial capitalization?”
Simon’s expression did not change.
“I invest in many entities.”
Nathan placed certified bank records on the table.
“Northlake Urban Partners received six million dollars from Voss Strategic Holdings.”
Simon’s attorney objected.
“This meeting is not a trial.”
Abigail answered, “No, but fiduciary duty still exists outside courtrooms.”
Bianca watched silently.
Simon turned toward her.
“You gave them that.”
She smiled faintly.
“I gave them nothing.”
“Not yet,” Marcus said.
For the first time, Bianca looked at him.
The protective order meant they could not communicate directly.
Rachel spoke for Marcus.
“Mrs. Hale has represented that she possesses a ledger.”
Simon laughed.
“Bianca has represented many things.”
The insult landed.
Her eyes sharpened.
Simon continued.
“She is an accused child abuser trying to bargain her way out of prison.”
Bianca’s lawyer rose.
“My client has not been convicted of any offense.”
“And Marcus is an accused wife beater,” Simon said.
Marcus’s muscles tightened.
Every instinct told him to attack.
Verbally, if not physically.
Instead he said nothing.
Rachel noticed.
So did Bianca.
Abigail called for order.
Simon began his presentation.
He displayed the fraudulent emails from Marcus’s cloned laptop.
He displayed the genuine $72 million guarantee bearing Marcus’s signature.
He played the full recording of Marcus’s final argument with Richard.
Marcus heard his own furious voice filling the room.
If you keep trying to destroy Bianca, I’ll remove you from every role you have left.
Richard answered:
That is exactly why you are not ready to see what she is doing.
Marcus responded:
I am done letting you interfere in my life.
The recording hurt worse than he expected.
Simon stopped it.
“This is the man asking you to believe his father freely entrusted him with voting authority days later.”
Whispers spread.
Marcus could not deny the recording.
So he did not.
He stood.
“I said those things.”
The room quieted.
“I was angry. I was arrogant. My father tried to warn me about Bianca, Simon, and a financing package I should never have signed.”
Simon smiled.
Marcus continued.
“I signed the Northlake guarantee. That was my failure.”
Even Abigail looked surprised.
“I will not blame forged emails for the signature that is actually mine. If Hale Meridian faces a lawful financial obligation because I failed in my duty as CEO, I will accept whatever action the board decides is appropriate.”
Simon’s smile faded.
“But that does not make Simon’s theft legal.”
Marcus sat.
Nathan placed Richard’s certified April 16 testimony into the record.
Simon attacked Richard’s capacity.
Abigail produced medical documentation showing Richard was lucid and legally competent that day.
Simon challenged the March trust amendment.
Nathan produced the original.
Simon challenged the seventy-five-percent sale restriction.
Abigail produced her certified copy.
Every route narrowed.
Then Simon played his last card.
Evelyn’s proxy.
“With Mrs. Hale’s twelve percent, my own voting interests, and the employee trust proxies already delivered, we have sufficient authority to replace the board members obstructing the transaction.”
Marcus looked toward the employee trust representative.
A nervous man named Joel Mercer avoided his gaze.
Simon had been collecting proxies.
Abigail calculated.
The vote was close.
Too close.
Then Bianca stood.
Her attorney tried to stop her.
She ignored him.
“I have evidence.”
Simon laughed.
“Of course you do.”
Bianca removed a small red ledger from her handbag.
Marcus recognized it from Mila’s description.
Simon’s face changed.
“You stupid—”
Bianca smiled.
“There he is.”
She placed it in front of Abigail.
Simon moved toward her.
Two security officers stepped between them.
Bianca addressed the room.
“Every Northlake payment is recorded here.”
Simon’s attorney said, “That book is inadmissible and unauthenticated.”
Bianca shrugged.
“It’s my handwriting.”
Silence.
Her own lawyer stared at her in disbelief.
Bianca had just implicated herself.
She continued.
“The entries identify transfers, shell companies, and percentages.”
Simon’s face went red.
“You think sacrificing yourself saves you?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because you tried to have Claire Donnelly kidnapped.”
“You knew?”
“I know everything you do.”
Simon laughed bitterly.
“You knew about Miriam.”
Bianca’s expression changed.
Marcus noticed.
“What about Miriam?” Abigail asked.
Simon looked at Bianca.
“You told her to get the second key.”
Bianca said, “You did.”
“You wanted Richard’s recorder.”
“You wanted the trust file.”
They were turning on each other in real time.
Federal agents listened.
Marcus remained still.
This was what Richard had meant.
Do not assume theft is the real crime.
The money was camouflage.
The true structure was leverage.
Each conspirator held evidence on the others.
And fear had kept them together.
Until now.
Simon pointed at Bianca.
“She planned all of it. The wedding. The marriage. Marcus’s removal.”
Bianca laughed.
“And you planned Northlake before I even met Marcus.”
The room erupted.
Abigail slammed her gavel.
Then the ballroom doors opened.
Detective Ortiz entered with two federal agents.
Simon stopped.
Bianca’s lawyer closed his eyes.
One agent approached the table.
“Mr. Voss, we have a federal warrant for your arrest on charges including wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice.”
Simon stared.
Then looked at Bianca.
“You did this.”
Bianca’s smile vanished when the second agent turned toward her.
“Bianca Hale, we also have a warrant for your arrest.”
For the first time since the wedding night, she looked completely unprepared.
Marcus watched agents handcuff her.
As she was led past him, she stopped.
Their eyes met.
She whispered, “You think you won?”
Marcus said nothing.
She smiled bitterly.
“You still don’t know what your father did.”
Then she walked away.
Marcus turned to Nathan.
“What did she mean?”
Nathan looked troubled.
“I was hoping she wouldn’t know.”
Marcus stared.
“Know what?”
May you like
Nathan opened his briefcase.
“There is one final document Richard ordered me not to show you until the Bellmere was safe.”
