Chapter 9 - The Boardroom Vote
Victor arrived at the board meeting wearing Margaret’s watch.
Simeon noticed immediately.
It was a gold square-faced watch she had worn every day until her death.
“Where did you get that?”
Victor looked at his wrist.
“Family keepsakes.”
“That belonged to your mother.”
“She left it to me.”
“You never wore it.”
“I felt sentimental.”
Clara whispered, “He wants you off balance.”
Simeon nodded.
It worked.
The boardroom had twelve chairs.
Victor controlled five directors.
Simeon had three.
The remaining four looked terrified of choosing a side.
Victor began with concern.
That was his favorite disguise.
“My uncle has suffered emotional shock.”
Simeon leaned back.
Victor continued.
“An estranged daughter reappears after decades. Two children claim inheritance. A former employee makes wild allegations. Simeon fires staff impulsively and closes profitable businesses.”
Clara raised her hand.
“I’m the estranged daughter. Can I object to being discussed like weather?”
Victor smiled.
“This is a board meeting.”
“And I’m a shareholder.”
“Minority.”
“Maybe.”
The smile faded.
Miriam distributed copies of Evelyn’s original will page.
Victor’s attorney objected.
“Unverified photocopy.”
Daniel produced Evelyn’s letter.
Frank appeared by video from Florida.
Victor’s face changed.
Frank testified that he knew the filed will had been altered.
“By whom?” Miriam asked.
Frank looked miserable.
“Victor brought me the replacement page.”
Victor stood.
“Liar.”
Frank flinched.
“You told me Evelyn was confused.”
“She was.”
“She beat me at bridge two days before she died.”
A director coughed to hide a laugh.
Victor snapped, “This is pathetic.”
Clara watched him.
“Scared?”
He turned.
“Of you?”
“Of losing.”
“You already lost. Look at your life.”
The cruelty was immediate.
“You’re broke. Your husband was institutionalized. Your children were homeless. You came crawling back because you smelled money.”
Noah was not in the room.
Clara was grateful.
She stood.
“I came back because my son walked through freezing rain to find the father I thought hated me.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
“You want to know what I have that you don’t?”
“Please enlighten me.”
“People who can leave me.”
The room went quiet.
Victor frowned.
Clara continued.
“Daniel can leave. Noah can grow up and disagree with me. Lucy can choose a life I don’t understand. Dad can disappoint me again. Love doesn’t become real because I trap people inside it.”
Victor laughed.
“You sound like a greeting card.”
“And you sound lonely.”
That landed.
Victor looked at Simeon.
“You told her.”
“Told her what?”
“About my father.”
Simeon said nothing.
Victor’s face became cold.
“You had no right.”
“Your mother wanted you to know.”
“She wanted me ashamed.”
“No.”
“You don’t know what she wanted.”
“I heard her tape.”
Victor froze.
For the first time, the confident man vanished.
“My mother made a tape?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Safe.”
“What did she say?”
“That she loved you.”
Victor stared.
Simeon continued.
“She was afraid we would teach you the Bennett name mattered more than you did.”
Victor laughed once.
Then again.
“That’s convenient.”
“She was right.”
“Shut up.”
“You were my nephew before I knew who your father was.”
“Shut up.”
“You were family.”
Victor slammed his hand on the table.
“Then why did you give Clara everything?”
Clara stared.
Simeon understood.
There it was.
Not the trust.
Not the company.
A twenty-five-year-old wound.
“I didn’t.”
“You gave her your office.”
“She worked there.”
“You gave her Mom’s desk.”
“Because she needed a desk.”
“You called her your future.”
Simeon remembered.
At Clara’s college graduation, he had toasted: “To the future of Bennett Properties.”
Victor had been sitting beside her.
Simeon had never thought about how the words landed.
“I hurt you.”
Victor’s face twisted.
“Don’t.”
“I should have seen you.”
“Don’t pity me.”
“I don’t.”
“Then stop talking like a therapist.”
“I loved you badly.”
Silence.
Victor’s eyes glistened.
Then hardened.
“Too late.”
He called the vote.
Before ballots were counted, Ortiz entered with two officers.
Victor’s attorney stood.
“What is this?”
Ortiz handed Victor a warrant.
“For financial records and unlawful confinement investigation related to Daniel Carter.”
Victor smiled.
“You’re arresting me?”
“Not yet.”
“Then get out.”
She did not.
The vote proceeded.
Five for removing Simeon.
Three against.
The four undecided directors held the balance.
First voted no.
Second no.
Third abstained.
The final director, Patricia Wu, looked at Clara.
“I worked with your mother.”
Clara nodded.
“She told me once that this company confused being old with being honorable.”
Simeon almost smiled.
Patricia voted no.
The motion failed.
Victor gathered his papers.
“You think this changes anything?”
Clara said, “Yes.”
“What?”
“I’m not afraid of you anymore.”
Victor leaned close.
“You should be.”
Simeon stepped between them.
Victor smiled.
“There he is. Twenty-two years late.”
Then he walked out.
In the hallway, Ortiz received a call.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
She looked at Simeon.
“Mercy Lodge is on fire.”
Daniel stood.
“What?”
“The east wing.”
“Residents?”
“Evacuating.”
Daniel’s face went white.
“My roommate.”
“Who?”
“A man named Thomas. He knew where they kept records.”
Ortiz called Maine authorities.
The fire was contained.
No deaths.
But the records room burned completely.
Simeon looked toward the elevator where Victor had disappeared.
“He did it.”
Ortiz said, “We prove it.”
Then Daniel’s phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED DEAD.
Attached was a photograph.
Noah and Lucy leaving school that afternoon.
Taken from across the street.
May you like
Before everyone left the boardroom, Patricia stopped Simeon beside the elevator. “Evelyn asked me once whether you ever changed your mind in public.” Simeon frowned. “What did you tell her?” “I said no.” Patricia looked ashamed. “She said that was why Victor learned apology was weakness.” Simeon watched the elevator numbers descend. “She had a sentence for everything.” “Only because nobody listened the first time.” Patricia walked away. Clara had heard. She slipped her arm through her father’s for only a second. “You changed your mind in public today.” Simeon nodded. “Cost me forty years.” “Then don’t waste the next one.”
For once, he chose the uncomfortable truth before someone forced it from him.
