Chapter 8 - The Takeover
Malcolm’s head snapped toward me.
“What did you do?”
I smiled.
“I exercised my rights.”
Arthur walked toward the stage.
“What transfer?”
I handed him a document.
“The controlling shareholder has authority under Article Seven to appoint or remove executive leadership.”
Arthur read.
His eyes widened.
I looked at Malcolm.
“Effective at 11:59 p.m. tonight, you are no longer CEO.”
The room exploded.
People stood.
Phones came out.
Someone shouted:
“Is that legal?”
Arthur looked at the signature.
“Yes.”
Malcolm stared at him.
“You can’t.”
Arthur looked up.
“She can.”
Malcolm shook his head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
The word came from someone else.
A calm female voice.
Everyone turned.
A woman in a dark gray suit was walking into the ballroom.
I knew her.
Mara Bell.
General counsel for Ashford Innovations.
She had worked with me for eleven years.
Malcolm had never realized how often she and I communicated directly.
She walked to the stage.
In her hand was a black folder.
“Good evening.”
Malcolm looked horrified.
“You knew?”
Mara looked at him.
“For twelve years.”
His mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Mara placed the folder beside me.
“The corporate records have been verified.
The trust documents have been authenticated.
The shareholder register is current.”
She turned toward the board.
“Naen Odum Ashford remains the controlling owner of Ashford Innovations.”
A board member asked:
“And Malcolm?”
Mara looked at him.
“His executive appointment has been revoked.”
Malcolm laughed.
A strange, broken sound.
“You people are insane.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
He turned toward me.
“You planned this?”
I touched the brass key.
“I prepared for it.”
He stared at me.
“When?”
I thought about all the nights I had sat alone in my office after he stopped coming home.
All the times he had dismissed my concerns.
All the times Vivian had walked past me wearing my jewelry.
All the times Malcolm had told me I was lucky to be his wife.
“All the times you made me feel like I didn’t exist.”
His face tightened.
“So you waited.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted revenge.”
“No.”
That surprised him.
I shook my head.
“I wanted the truth.”
May you like
I looked at the crowd.
“And tonight, you gave me a microphone.”
