Chapter 11 - The Phantom Shareholder
Nathaniel pulled his smartphone from his pocket and immediately called his head legal advisor, David Miller.
"David, I need you at the estate in thirty minutes," Nathaniel commanded into the receiver.
"And bring the original corporate founding charter from 1954."
Within less than an hour, David Miller sat at the long mahogany table in the estate's main library, examining the faded documents from the oak box under a magnifying lamp.
"It's authentic, Nathaniel," David announced, his face grave and pale.
"This is an original hand-signed covenant between your grandfather, Charles Whitmore, and Claire's father, Edward Vance."
"According to this document, Claire is not just Mrs. Whitmore."
"She is the primary legal owner of the controlling stock in Whitmore Enterprises."
Claire sat beside Nathaniel, clutching her warm teacup with both hands.
"So Vanessa and Julian weren't just stealing company money," Claire said softly.
"They were trying to steal the whole empire."
David nodded slowly. "Yes, Mrs. Whitmore."
"And there's something worse."
David pulled out a digital tablet and tapped the screen.
"I just checked the federal warden records from the prison where Julian is serving his life sentence."
"Julian suffered a stroke in his cell two nights ago."
"Before he was taken to the hospital wing, he surrendered his private legal rights to a third party."
Nathanielâs eyes narrowed into dark slits.
"Who?" Nathaniel demanded.
May you like
"A private offshore trust in Zurich," David replied.
"Controlled by Vanessa's mother... Victoria Sinclair."
