Chapter 17 - THE COUNTERATTACK
Victoria’s signature gave Thomas temporary control.
It also gave them something Thomas didn’t expect.
Confidence.
He believed Victoria had surrendered.
That made him careless.
Elena studied Samuel’s records.
Julian reviewed corporate bylaws.
Richard’s attorneys worked from outside the detention center.
Then Elena found the weakness.
Thomas’s hidden shares depended on a trust created in 1999.
The trust was legal only if the original funding came from legitimate income.
Samuel’s records proved the funding came from stolen Harrington money.
Julian smiled.
“So the entire takeover can be voided.”
“If we prove the documents are authentic.”
“We have Samuel’s video.”
“And the banks.”
Victoria shook her head.
“Thomas destroyed most original bank records.”
Elena held up Samuel’s ledger.
“He didn’t destroy everything.”
They prepared copies for prosecutors.
Then Elena did something Victoria never expected.
She handed her the original birth certificate.
Victoria stared at it.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“Because Thomas thinks I still carry everything important.”
“You trust me?”
“No.”
Elena looked her in the eyes.
“But I’m giving you one chance to become the woman you keep pretending you could have been.”
Victoria swallowed.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Meet Thomas.”
Julian immediately objected.
“No.”
Victoria looked at him.
“Elena’s right.”
Julian stared at his mother.
“I’m not letting him kill you.”
Victoria gave a small, sad smile.
“You still care.”
“Don’t make this sentimental.”
Her smile disappeared.
“I don’t deserve sentimental.”
The meeting was arranged at Harrington Tower.
Thomas wanted Victoria to formally announce his appointment as chairman.
Hundreds of employees gathered.
Board members attended.
Media waited outside.
Thomas arrived smiling.
Marcus Vale walked beside him.
Elena watched from the security control room.
Julian stood with federal agents nearby.
Victoria entered the boardroom wearing white.
Thomas kissed her cheek.
“You finally made the intelligent choice.”
Victoria smiled.
“I learned from you.”
He leaned closer.
“Where is the key?”
“Safe.”
“And Elena?”
“She believes I’m helping her.”
Thomas laughed.
“She always was naive.”
Elena heard every word through Victoria’s hidden microphone.
Then Thomas said the sentence they needed.
“Samuel should have understood what happened to men who challenged us.”
Victoria looked at him.
“You mean cutting his brakes?”
Thomas smiled.
“That was Vale’s idea.”
In the security room, the federal agent nodded.
They had the confession.
Julian reached for the door.
Elena stopped him.
“Not yet.”
“What else do you need?”
“Gabriel.”
Thomas took out his phone.
“Once the announcement is finished, Bennett disappears.”
Victoria’s face tightened.
“Where?”
Thomas smiled.
“Same place Isabel almost disappeared.”
Elena leaned toward the speaker.
Victoria asked calmly, “The old river warehouse?”
Thomas nodded.
“Exactly.”
Elena grabbed her coat.
Julian followed.
Federal agents moved toward the boardroom.
Behind them, Thomas suddenly realized what was happening.
He grabbed Victoria.
Vale reached for his gun.
Agents stormed through both doors.
Julian heard his mother scream.
May you like
But Elena was already running.
Because somewhere across the city, the father she had never met was about to die.
