Chapter 5 - THE BOARD AT 2:13 A.M.
At 2:13 a.m., twelve board members appeared on a secure video call.
Some wore suits.
Some wore robes.
One director in Tokyo looked furious to be awake.
I did not apologize.
Miriam presented the forged penthouse transfer.
Then the attempted debt modification.
Julian had quietly asked Laurent Heritage Bank to release three properties from collateral.
If approved, he could have sold them through Vale Hospitality affiliates.
Except Vale Hospitality did not own the land.
One director whispered.
“He was selling the walls without owning the ground.”
“Trying to,” Miriam corrected.
Then our CFO joined.
She had found $14.6 million in unexplained consulting payments.
Julian approved them.
Vanessa’s marketing company received $3.2 million.
My hands went cold.
“Vanessa owns a marketing company?”
The CFO nodded.
“Registered eighteen months ago.”
Eighteen months.
The affair was older than Julian admitted.
Maybe much older.
The board voted.
Eleven to one.
Julian was suspended as chief executive pending investigation.
The one dissent came from my uncle Adrian.
That surprised me.
Adrian had taught me to ride a bicycle.
He had attended my wedding.
He had defended Julian for years.
After the call, Dad remained silent.
“You noticed,” I said.
“Yes.”
“Why would Adrian protect him?”
Dad rubbed his jaw.
“I don’t know.”
Then Miriam received an email.
Anonymous.
One attachment.
A contract signed eight years earlier.
Julian Vale.
Adrian Laurent.
The subject line contained four words.
May you like
THE REAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.
