Chapter 11 - Dinner With the Enemy
Elias chose the same restaurant where Elena’s father had celebrated Voss Global’s first billion-dollar year.
He was already seated when she arrived.
“You came.”
“You knew I would.”
Elias poured wine into two glasses.
Elena did not touch hers.
“You found Meridian.”
It was not a question.
“Yes.”
“And the account.”
“Yes.”
“And my purchases.”
“Yes.”
Elias smiled.
“Then we can stop pretending.”
Elena sat across from him.
“Why?”
His smile faded.
“Your father and I built Voss together.”
“His records say otherwise.”
“Records.”
Elias laughed.
“Your father loved records because records made him look like a visionary.”
“I financed the first warehouse.”
“I negotiated the first acquisition.”
“I saved him when banks refused to lend.”
“And what did he do?”
“He put his name on everything.”
Elena watched him.
“You were paid.”
“I was reduced.”
“You received equity.”
“Six percent.”
“You accepted it.”
“I was thirty.”
“I thought loyalty would be remembered.”
His eyes sharpened.
“Then you were born.”
Elena said nothing.
“Suddenly I understood.”
“He never intended to reward loyalty.”
“He intended to create a dynasty.”
Elena leaned back.
“So you spent decades stealing from that dynasty.”
“I reclaimed what was mine.”
“You forged my father’s authorization.”
“He gave me the key.”
“For custody.”
“He trusted me.”
“And you used that trust after he died.”
Elias leaned forward.
“Your father was not the saint you remember.”
Elena’s expression hardened.
“Don’t.”
“He knew exactly what I wanted.”
“That’s why he created the Founders Covenant.”
Elena paused.
“You have it.”
“Yes.”
“Show me.”
Elias smiled.
“Not yet.”
“What triggers it?”
“You’ll learn at the shareholder meeting.”
She stood.
Elias remained seated.
“Elena.”
She stopped.
“You think exposing Meridian defeats me.”
“It doesn’t.”
He lifted his glass.
“Meridian was only one path.”
“What’s the other?”
Elias’s smile returned.
“You.”
Elena turned.
“What does that mean?”
“You’ve spent seven years hiding who you are.”
“You let Damian take credit.”
“You let the market believe other men controlled your companies.”
“You buried yourself.”
May you like
He raised the glass toward her.
“Now imagine what happens when I convince shareholders you did it because you were hiding something much worse.”
