Chapter 10 - The Bennett Family Vote
Richard's confession was dated three weeks earlier.
It admitted falsifying Hian ownership records.
It admitted unauthorized transfers.
It admitted concealing Eleanor's trust.
And it accepted sole responsibility.
Norah looked at Grant.
"Why would Dad prepare this?"
Grant answered quietly.
"Because Hale threatened us."
Richard sat down.
The fight seemed to leave him.
Hale had demanded control of the riverfront after closing.
Richard planned to confess afterward, taking the criminal exposure onto himself while leaving Grant in control of Bennett Construction.
"And me?" Norah asked.
Richard looked at her.
"You would've been protected."
She laughed bitterly.
"By another lie."
"I thought it was the only way."
"It was the only way that let you keep deciding for everyone."
That ended the conversation.
The board assembled the following morning.
Nine directors.
Richard controlled three.
Eleanor's trust controlled three through Norah.
The remaining three could decide everything.
Richard spoke first.
He talked about history.
Legacy.
Employees.
Continuity.
Then Norah stood.
She didn't give a speech.
She placed the forged contract on the table.
Then the trust.
Then the ledger.
Then Richard's confession.
"This is our history too."
Nobody interrupted.
"I won't ask you to choose between my father and me. I'm asking you to vote on three motions."
Independent forensic audit.
Immediate suspension of Richard's executive authority.
Temporary appointment of an outside restructuring officer while ownership disputes were resolved.
Richard stared.
"You don't even want the CEO position?"
"No."
That surprised everyone.
Especially Luca, seated as an observer.
Norah continued.
"This company doesn't need another Bennett using it as proof of personal importance."
Grant lowered his eyes.
Richard looked wounded.
The vote began.
Audit.
Nine to zero.
Suspension.
Six to three.
Richard closed his eyes.
Restructuring officer.
Seven to two.
It was over.
Richard Bennett was no longer in control.
Norah expected triumph.
She felt grief.
Her father stood.
Nobody knew what to say.
Finally he looked at her.
"Your mother would be proud."
Norah's eyes burned.
"Don't use her to make this easier."
He nodded.
Then left.
Hale retaliated within an hour.
His attorneys filed suit challenging Eleanor's trust.
They alleged undue influence.
Fraud.
Forgery.
The irony almost impressed Norah.
Then the banks froze two credit facilities.
Payroll was due Friday.
Bennett Construction had four days.
Luca offered bridge financing.
Norah refused.
"Why?"
"Because everyone will say I replaced dependence on my father with dependence on you."
"People say many stupid things."
"I care about this one."
He considered her answer.
Then nodded.
"What do you need?"
"A fair bid."
"For?"
"The non-Hian assets."
Luca understood.
Norah intended to sell peripheral holdings, stabilize the company, and protect the core business without giving Moretti control.
"I'll bid."
"So will everyone else."
He smiled.
"Good."
For two days Norah barely slept.
Grant worked beside her.
For once, he didn't sell.
He listened.
He called clients and told them the truth.
Some left.
Most stayed.
On Thursday night, Norah found him asleep at his desk.
She placed a coat over him.
His phone lit up.
A message appeared.
She didn't intend to read it.
But the first line contained her name.
NORAH CANNOT FIND OUT.
The sender was Richard.
Norah stared.
Another message arrived.
THE ORIGINAL DEED IS STILL IN THE HOUSE.
Grant woke.
He saw the phone.
"Norah."
"What deed?"
Grant stood too quickly.
"I can explain."
"Then explain."
"Dad told me there was one document Mom never filed."
"What document?"
"I don't know."
"Where?"
Grant looked at the phone.
"The old house."
They drove there together.
Luca met them outside.
Richard wasn't home.
Norah searched Eleanor's study.
Nothing.
Grant searched the basement.
Luca checked the safe.
Empty.
Then Norah remembered the loose floorboard where Eleanor had hidden the blue folder.
She lifted it again.
A second compartment sat deeper beneath the first.
Inside was a sealed deed.
Norah opened it.
The riverfront property had not originally been purchased by Hian.
It had been transferred into Hian.
From another owner.
Norah read the original owner's name.
Her hands went numb.
Grant looked over her shoulder.
"That can't be right."
Luca said nothing.
Because the original deed said the riverfront had belonged to:
MORETTI FAMILY HOLDINGS.
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And the transfer had been signed by Luca's father.
But his signature was forged.
