Chapter 5
And somewhere in Chicago, a sixty-four-year-old man had been writing clauses to control her future.
“Daniel?”
“Yes?”
“I want every legal protection available for my daughter.”
“We’re already preparing it.”
“No,” Evelyn said quietly. “I mean every single one.”
At eleven, the emergency board meeting began.
Grant entered expecting to find his usual allies.
Instead, he found independent counsel, an outside forensic accountant, and two directors who refused to meet his eyes.
Raymond sat near the end of the table.
His expression was unreadable.
The board chair, Margaret Ellis, opened the meeting.
“Mr. Mercer, serious concerns have been raised about the validity of several corporate authorizations.”
Grant loosened his tie.
“My wife is angry about a personal matter. This is retaliation.”
Margaret looked at him.
“Did you approve the Domestic Continuity Amendment?”
“Yes.”
“Did you represent to the board that Evelyn Mercer had voluntarily withdrawn from her family governance responsibilities?”
Grant hesitated.
“She was receiving medical treatment.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Raymond interrupted.
“The amendment was designed to protect corporate stability.”
Margaret turned toward him.
“Then perhaps you can explain why the consent certificate carries Mrs. Mercer’s signature when her attorney has provided evidence that she was hospitalized in Cleveland on the date it was supposedly executed in Chicago.”
Grant stared at Raymond.
His uncle said nothing.
Margaret continued.
“And perhaps you can explain why Northbridge Strategic Partners received seventeen million dollars in company payments.”
Raymond leaned back.
“Those were legitimate consulting expenses.”
“Then you won’t object to providing the contracts and work product.”
Silence.
Grant looked between them.
“Raymond?”
His uncle finally met his eyes.
“Be careful what you say next.”
That was the moment Grant understood.
He had thought he was replacing an inconvenient wife.
Raymond had been positioning himself to take control of the company.
And Grant had handed him the paperwork.
At 2:30 p.m., Caroline appeared at Evelyn’s Cleveland residence.
She stood outside the door in a wool coat, her makeup gone, her eyes swollen.
Evelyn saw her through the security camera.
For a long moment, she considered sending her away.
Then she opened the door.
Caroline looked exhausted.
“Evie.”
“How did you find me?”
“Grant told me you were in Cleveland. I called the old driver service you used to book.”
Evelyn made a mental note to tighten security.
“What do you want?”
Caroline began crying.
“I didn’t know about the money.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“I’m serious. Raymond told Grant that you were mentally unstable and planning to take control of the company.”