Chapter 11 - The Emergency Board
Khloe barely slept.
At seven the next morning, she was cleared to leave continuous monitoring.
Her doctor strongly recommended rest.
Khloe agreed.
Then she requested a wheelchair and a secure conference room.
At 7:55 a.m., twenty-one faces appeared across a wall of screens.
Thorne Global’s board.
Damian sat at the head of the physical conference table inside Thorne Tower.
Marcus sat six seats away.
He looked exhausted.
Damian began.
“This meeting concerns an urgent governance crisis.”
Khloe joined remotely.
The room visibly reacted.
Several directors had apparently not expected her.
Damian’s expression hardened.
“Khloe.”
“Good morning.”
“You should be resting.”
“You should be explaining why your consultant assaulted me.”
Silence followed.
Damian attempted to redirect.
“We are not here to discuss personal matters.”
Khloe smiled faintly.
“You filed an incapacity petition against the largest beneficial shareholder of this company.”
“That makes it corporate.”
Directors began whispering.
Damian froze.
He had not expected them to know about her ownership.
Khloe continued.
“As of last night, the Laurent Family Trust completed succession.”
The general counsel checked his phone.
Then whispered to another director.
Damian stared at Khloe.
“You rushed an invalid transfer.”
Rebecca appeared beside Khloe.
“It was executed under the governing instrument your attorneys attempted to challenge.”
Damian looked toward his counsel.
Nobody spoke.
Khloe introduced her three board appointees.
Rebecca Sloan.
Dr. Naomi Bell.
Elaine Parker.
Elaine appeared on screen.
Damian’s face changed when he saw her.
Khloe noticed.
“I believe you know Elaine.”
Damian interrupted.
“This is absurd.”
Khloe remained calm.
“Elaine.”
“Would you tell the board why you moved me into Suite 1412?”
Elaine’s hands shook.
But her voice remained clear.
“Mr. Damian Thorne paid me fifty thousand dollars to change Mrs. Thorne’s assigned suite.”
The board erupted.
Damian stood.
“She is lying.”
Khloe shared the bank transfer.
Then the security footage.
Not the attack.
Not yet.
Only Damian entering the hospital service corridor and speaking to Elaine.
Board members watched in silence.
Khloe then displayed Northstar Advisory’s ownership documents.
Damian looked around the room.
His control was slipping.
He changed strategy.
“This company cannot be governed by emotional theater.”
Khloe stared at him.
“I agree.”
“So let’s discuss numbers.”
She displayed a second file Rebecca had spent the night reviewing.
Offshore transfers.
Related-party consulting fees.
Payments to Northstar.
Damian went silent.
Marcus looked at the screen.
Khloe continued.
“For nine years, Thorne Global paid entities connected to you more than eighty-four million dollars.”
“That is false.”
“Then support an independent forensic audit.”
Damian hesitated.
Everyone saw it.
Dr. Naomi Bell spoke.
“I move for an immediate audit.”
Rebecca seconded.
Another director supported it.
Damian’s face tightened.
Khloe remained still.
Then Marcus spoke.
“I support the motion.”
Damian looked at his son.
Marcus did not look away.
The vote passed.
Fourteen to seven.
Damian had lost.
At least, it appeared that way.
Then the corporate secretary interrupted.
“There is another motion.”
Khloe frowned.
“Submitted by whom?”
The secretary looked uncomfortable.
“Marcus Thorne.”
Khloe stared at her husband.
Marcus slowly stood.
“I move that Khloe Thorne be suspended from all Thorne Global voting activity pending investigation into potential manipulation of trust succession.”
The room exploded.
Khloe felt something inside her drop.
Marcus looked directly into the camera.
His face revealed nothing.
May you like
For the second time in less than twelve hours, her husband appeared to betray her.
And this time, he was doing it in front of the entire board.
