Chapter 12 - THE CHAIRMAN’S PRICE
Charles Hamilton had not betrayed the Vale family for loyalty.
He had done it for debt.
Six months earlier, his private investments had collapsed.
He owed more than eleven million dollars to lenders.
Julian discovered it.
Then he offered help.
Not cash.
A future.
If Julian gained control of Meridian Crown, Charles would receive a lucrative consulting package, debt assistance, and equity in the new management company.
In exchange, Charles had to provide information.
Board schedules.
Voting intentions.
Legal concerns.
Anything connected to Elena.
When confronted the next morning, Charles denied everything.
Elena placed the phone records in front of him.
His face went pale.
Margaret added copies of a draft consulting agreement found in Julian’s hidden vault.
Charles stopped denying it.
Thomas stood at the far end of the room.
“You knew my father.”
Charles looked down.
“I did.”
“He trusted you.”
“I know.”
“And you sold that trust for eleven million dollars.”
Charles finally looked at Elena.
“I was going to lose everything.”
Elena felt no satisfaction.
“Then you should have told us.”
“I was ashamed.”
“So you chose treachery.”
Charles flinched.
“I never thought Julian would go this far.”
Elena almost smiled at the familiar excuse.
Nobody ever imagined Julian would go as far as the evidence already showed.
Yet everyone kept helping him take the next step.
Charles was suspended immediately.
His board privileges were frozen.
More importantly, Elena gained access to months of messages.
One thread revealed Julian’s next move.
He had arranged a private meeting with several institutional investors at the Grand Aurelia Resort that evening.
The same resort where he had thrown Elena into the rain.
He intended to convince investors that Elena’s intervention would destroy the company.
Then he planned to announce a competing management group.
A company built using the very contracts he had attempted to steal.
Thomas wanted to cancel the event.
Elena refused.
“Let him hold it.”
Margaret looked surprised.
“He’s going to attack you publicly.”
“I know.”
“Then why allow it?”
Elena stared at the invitation.
Because Julian still believed the Grand Aurelia belonged to him.
Because he still believed that lobby was his stage.
Because he still believed Elena would avoid humiliation.
She picked up the phone.
“Tell the staff the investor meeting continues exactly as scheduled.”
Thomas understood before Margaret did.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
“You’re going back.”
Elena looked at the rain beginning outside the window.
“Yes.”
May you like
This time she would not be leaving through the side door.
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