Chapter 6 - The Ballroom Vote.
.The emergency board meeting was moved from the executive conference room to the ballroom, a decision Owen described as a practical response to unexpected attendance.
Charlotte understood the real reason as soon as she entered.
Reporters were waiting behind velvet ropes near the rear doors.
Major investors sat in the first rows.
Vivian Hale stood near the stage in a pale silver dress, smiling as if the previous night had never happened.
The setting turned a corporate dispute into a performance.
Owen wanted witnesses.
Charlotte walked down the center aisle with Daniel on one side and Rebecca Sloan on the other.
She wore a simple black suit borrowed from the hotel boutique because her luggage had never reached her room.
The simplicity worked in her favor.
The room went quiet without anyone asking it to.
Vivian stepped into her path.
“Charlotte.”
Charlotte stopped.
Vivian offered a polished smile.
“Last night became unfortunate.”
“You shoved me onto a marble floor.”
Vivian’s smile tightened.
“I thought you were causing trouble.”
“You decided what I was by looking at my clothes.”
A nearby reporter raised a phone.
Vivian noticed and lowered her voice.
“This is neither the time nor place.”
Charlotte answered loudly enough for the front row to hear.
“You chose the lobby.”
She continued toward the stage.
Owen called the meeting to order precisely at nine.
He presented charts showing rising debt, renovation overruns, and declining occupancy.
The figures looked alarming.
Then he introduced the proposed Northstar sale as the only responsible option.
Charlotte waited until he finished.
Rebecca whispered.
“Do not let him rush the vote.”
Charlotte stood.
“Before any vote, I request the board disclose all consulting payments to Hale Management Consulting.”
Murmurs moved across the ballroom.
Owen’s expression remained smooth.
“Those contracts were approved.”
“By the interim committee you chair.”
“They were necessary restructuring services.”
“Then you should have no objection to producing them.”
Owen looked toward the board secretary.
“We will address that during the audit.”
Charlotte lifted the torn ledger page.
“The audit whose records were being removed from archives last night?”
This time the murmurs became louder.
Vivian’s eyes hardened.
Owen leaned toward his microphone.
“Ms. Vale, grief can make ordinary discrepancies appear sinister.”
Charlotte felt the insult hit exactly where he intended.
She refused to show it.
“My grief is not on the agenda.”
Several investors applauded quietly.
Owen waited for the sound to die.
“Then let us discuss governance.”
He produced the March 18 authorization and displayed it on the large ballroom screens.
Rebecca stood immediately.
“We challenge that document.”
Owen nodded.
“Which is why we obtained a preliminary forensic review this morning.”
A report appeared beside the signature.
The conclusion claimed the signature was likely genuine.
Charlotte stared at it.
Rebecca whispered a curse.
Owen called for the vote.
Before the secretary could begin, the ballroom doors opened.
An elderly man in a brown raincoat walked inside carrying a blue book against his chest.
Marcus, standing near the wall, recognized him first.
“That is Mr. Ellis.”
Charlotte turned.
“Who?”
Daniel’s eyes widened.
“Your father’s retired accountant.”
May you like
The old man lifted the blue book.
“I believe everyone is looking for this.”
