Chapter 9 - The Woman in White.
.Vivian Hale had never mentioned being the chief financial officer when she ordered Charlotte out of the lobby.
That omission changed everything.
The elegant white gown, the diamonds, and the public contempt suddenly looked less like arrogance and more like camouflage.
Vivian had wanted Charlotte humiliated before anyone knew who she was.
Now Charlotte wanted to know why.
The board recess stretched beyond thirty minutes while directors argued privately over whether to suspend the sale vote.
Charlotte found Vivian alone in the Palm Room beside the ballroom, standing near a window with a glass of water in her hand.
Vivian saw her reflection before turning.
“You should be with your lawyers.”
“I wanted to talk without microphones.”
Vivian smiled faintly.
“How mature.”
Charlotte closed the door.
“You accessed the legal archive on March 18.”
The smile disappeared.
“That is not a question.”
“No.”
Vivian set down the glass.
“I was CFO.”
“Without my knowledge.”
“You had withdrawn from daily operations.”
“My father was dying.”
“And the business was collapsing.”
Charlotte stepped closer.
“Was it?”
Vivian’s jaw tightened.
Charlotte pulled a photocopy of the blue ledger page from her bag.
“Twenty-two million moved through companies tied to your family.”
“You do not understand the restructuring.”
“Then explain it.”
Vivian looked toward the door.
“Owen handled vendor strategy.”
“You signed transfers.”
“I signed what the committee approved.”
Charlotte watched her carefully.
For the first time, Vivian did not look powerful.
She looked cornered.
“Why did you shove me?”
Vivian laughed once, without humor.
“Because you walked into the lobby looking like a disaster.”
“That is your answer?”
“No.”
Vivian’s eyes hardened.
“My answer is that everyone in this building has spent months cleaning up the chaos your family left behind, and then you walked in expecting the name Vale to make everyone kneel.”
Charlotte felt the accusation but did not retreat.
“I expected not to be thrown on the floor.”
Vivian looked away.
“That was a mistake.”
“Your first honest sentence.”
Vivian snapped her gaze back.
“You think Owen is stealing the hotel.”
“I think someone is.”
“Then you are looking at the wrong end of the table.”
Charlotte’s pulse shifted.
“What does that mean?”
Vivian walked toward the door.
Charlotte blocked her path.
“Say it.”
Vivian lowered her voice.
“Your father knew Northstar wanted the property.”
“That is not news.”
“He also knew someone inside the Vale family trust was helping them.”
Charlotte froze.
“I am the only surviving beneficiary.”
“Beneficiary, yes.”
Vivian opened the door.
“Not the only trustee.”
Charlotte grabbed her wrist lightly enough to stop her without force.
“Who?”
Vivian looked at Charlotte’s hand, then into her eyes.
“You really do not know.”
She pulled free.
“Ask Rebecca Sloan why your father removed her from his hospital room two days before he died.”
Charlotte’s breath caught.
May you like
Vivian stepped into the corridor.
“And ask her why the missing amendment was drafted on her private computer.”
