Chapter 9 - Confrontation on the 40th Floor
When the private elevator doors opened on the 40th floor, Robert Hayes did not look like a man who had spent forty-eight hours in a federal holding cell. He wore a fresh tailored suit, his hair combed back, though his bloodshot eyes and twitching jaw betrayed the frantic desperation consuming him.
He stormed into Nathan's office, slamming his leather briefcase onto the glass conference table.
'You think you're clever, don't you, Nathan?' Robert snarled, stepping close to his son. 'You humiliated me! You destroyed thirty years of my reputation in front of every power player in California!'
Nathan didn't stand up from his chair. He leaned back, resting his hands comfortably on the armrests. 'You destroyed your own reputation, Dad. I just provided the venue and the projection screen.'
'You set me up!' Robert shouted, slamming his fist onto the desk. 'You knew about Audrey! You orchestrated that video! That’s illegal surveillance!'
'The corporate suite at Apex and the hotel penthouse were both registered under Apex property security mandates,' Nathan replied evenly. 'Every employee—and guest—signs a consent waiver upon entering. Read the fine print next time.'
Robert breathed heavily, his chest heaving under his silk shirt. He took a step back and straightened his tie, trying to regain his dominant posture. 'It doesn't matter. You might have caught Audrey, but Hayes Capital still owns thirty-five percent of Apex Dynamics voting shares. And as Chairman of Hayes Capital, I am exercising my right to call an emergency board vote to remove you as CEO.'
Nathan let out a soft, dry laugh. 'With what board, Dad? Three of your board members resigned yesterday. The SEC froze your personal assets this morning.'
'They didn't freeze my corporate voting proxy!' Robert sneered, drawing a folded document from his coat pocket. 'Charles Vance just purchased thirty percent of Hayes Capital's distressed debt. Combined with my shares, we hold the controlling interest in Apex. I'm taking your company away from you, Nathan. Just like you took my freedom.'
Nathan looked at the document, then looked up at his father. There was no panic on Nathan's face. Only pity.
'Did you read the cross-collateralization clause on page twelve of that debt purchase agreement, Dad?' Nathan asked quietly.
Robert froze. 'What?'
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'Charles Vance didn't buy your debt to help you,' Nathan explained, pointing to his desk computer screen. 'He bought it to force Hayes Capital into involuntary bankruptcy. He just filed the petition twenty minutes ago. You don't own those shares anymore, Robert. The bankruptcy court does. And guess who just bought the liquid debt from the court?'
Nathan smiled slowly. 'My mother.'
