Chapter 6 - Nine O'Clock.
At eight fifty the next morning, Claire entered Vale Mercer headquarters wearing a white button-down shirt and a navy suit.
The small bandage at her temple was almost hidden beneath her hair.
She refused to hide everything else.
Employees watched from behind glass office walls as she crossed the lobby with Mara and Jonah.
Some looked concerned.
Others looked away.
The boardroom doors were already closed.
Eleanor had started early.
Mara checked the time.
"That's deliberate."
Claire opened the doors without knocking.
Eleven directors sat around the long walnut table.
Eleanor occupied Thomas's usual chair.
Thomas sat three seats away.
Ethan stood near the windows.
Nobody had saved Claire a place.
She pulled out an empty chair and sat.
Eleanor continued as though nothing had happened.
"We are reviewing serious concerns about unauthorized transfers approved through Ms. Mercer's credentials."
Claire placed a folder on the table.
"Then let's review all of them."
Eleanor's eyes sharpened.
Mara distributed copies of the server logs.
Jonah explained that several authorizations had occurred while Claire was out of state.
A director named Paul Benson frowned.
"Then who logged in?"
Jonah answered carefully.
"That is what the independent review should determine."
Eleanor interrupted.
"This is speculation."
Claire turned toward her.
"So is accusing me before an audit."
Eleanor ignored her.
She called for a vote to suspend Claire's executive authority immediately.
Six hands rose.
Claire counted.
They needed seven.
Eleanor looked toward Thomas.
His hand remained on the table.
"Eleanor," he said quietly, "we need the audit."
Her face changed.
Only slightly.
But Claire saw the fury.
Then Ethan raised his hand.
Seven.
Claire stared at her husband.
He would not meet her eyes.
The motion passed.
For one breath, Claire felt defeated.
Then Mara leaned toward her.
"The suspension affects your officer role."
Claire understood.
"Not my shareholder vote."
Mara nodded.
Eleanor moved to the next item.
A refinancing resolution.
The company needed approval before noon to avoid default under a private lending agreement.
Claire listened as the terms were summarized.
The lender would receive sweeping rights if performance targets were missed.
It was worse than Ethan had admitted.
Eleanor needed Claire's shares because the resolution required seventy-five percent approval.
Without Claire, she did not have it.
Claire folded her hands.
"I vote no."
Eleanor's voice became cold.
"You will destroy thousands of jobs."
Claire answered.
"Then show the board the complete debt schedule and the missing trust assets."
Several directors turned toward Eleanor.
She had not expected Claire to connect the issues publicly.
Claire continued.
"Show them Ashford."
Paul Benson sat straighter.
"What is Ashford?"
Nobody answered.
That silence changed the room.
Eleanor called a recess.
As directors stood, Thomas approached Claire.
"I know where the charter may be."
Claire's pulse jumped.
"Where?"
"Your mother moved copies of the founding records to the first property's deed archive."
"We checked the hotel."
"Not the hotel archive."
Thomas lowered his voice.
"The county archive."
Mara checked the time.
It was ten fifteen.
The refinancing deadline was noon.
Claire stood.
Before she reached the door, Eleanor spoke behind her.
"You won't make it."
Claire stopped.
Something about the certainty in her voice felt wrong.
Claire turned.
Eleanor smiled faintly.
May you like
And Claire realized the missing charter was not merely hidden.
Someone had already tried to remove it.
