Chapter 14 - The Boardroom Trap
The emergency meeting took place inside Vale Meridian Tower.
The top-floor boardroom overlooked the city.
Beatrice sat at the head of the table.
She wore black.
Julian’s arrest had become national news, but she showed no grief.
Only control.
Twelve shareholders sat beside her.
Others joined by video.
Reporters waited outside.
I entered with Naomi, Nathan, Vanessa, Dr. Brooks, and my mother.
The room changed when Anne walked in.
Several older directors stood.
They remembered her.
Beatrice did not.
“You should have stayed dead,” she said.
Anne took the chair across from her.
“You should have learned to lose.”
The meeting began.
Beatrice presented medical records claiming I suffered delusions, unstable behavior, and pregnancy-related psychosis.
Dr. Brooks disproved each report.
She showed altered timestamps, false signatures, and impossible test results.
Beatrice presented the DNA report.
Naomi presented the original version proving it belonged to Vanessa.
Vanessa then described the hidden cellar.
Photographs appeared on the screen.
The cot.
The medical supplies.
The locked doors.
Beatrice called her a paid liar.
Then Vanessa played the recording of Beatrice threatening both mothers.
Two shareholders withdrew their proxies.
Beatrice’s mouth tightened.
She moved to the marriage claim.
Naomi submitted the court declaration voiding the marriage.
Then the genetic records proving Julian was Harrison’s son.
The boardroom erupted.
Beatrice finally lost her calm.
“That sample was never supposed to be tested.”
The room fell silent.
She had just admitted knowledge of the fertility scheme.
Naomi turned toward the court reporter.
“Please mark that statement.”
Beatrice realized too late.
Four more shareholders withdrew.
She still had enough votes to delay the succession.
Then she played her final card.
A video appeared.
My father speaking in his study.
“If Claire becomes pregnant through the Mercer line, she must never control the company.”
I stared at the screen.
The voice sounded real.
The image looked real.
My mother whispered, “That is not Harrison.”
Nathan analyzed the file.
AI-manipulated.
But the shareholders were uncertain.
Beatrice needed only doubt.
Then Anne opened a small metal case.
Inside were original videotapes.
My father’s board recordings.
Nathan connected the first tape.
Harrison appeared on-screen.
Real.
Unedited.
“If Beatrice Vale ever presents a recording claiming I opposed Claire’s control, it is false.”
Beatrice’s face emptied.
My father continued.
“She has already attempted to imitate my voice.”
The boardroom went silent.
The tape included dates, witnesses, and references to Beatrice’s threats.
One by one, the remaining shareholders withdrew their proxies.
The vote was called.
Claire Mercer: 87%.
Beatrice Vale: 6%.
Abstained: 7%.
Control transferred immediately.
I stood at the head of the table.
Beatrice remained seated.
“You cannot remove me,” she said.
I looked at security.
“Escort her out.”
She laughed.
Then two officers entered.
Not company security.
Federal agents.
They had warrants for kidnapping, attempted murder, medical fraud, and conspiracy.
Beatrice stood slowly.
Before they reached her, she opened her handbag.
Inside was a remote.
Nathan recognized the frequency.
“Everyone down!”
She pressed the button.
Nothing happened.
Anne held up a matching device.
“I disabled the receiver before the meeting.”
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For the first time, Beatrice looked afraid.
👉 Claire had taken back the company in front of every shareholder, but Beatrice’s arrest would mean nothing unless the hidden evidence could prove every crime beyond doubt.
