“He still thinks the vote will happen?”
“Yes.”
Evelyn looked through the glass.
Grant crossed the lobby below, smiling for reporters who did not know his name.
Savannah held his arm.
Margaret walked behind them like a queen entering a newly conquered province.
“They believe they are here to celebrate,” Nathaniel said.
“That makes two celebrations Savannah has attended too early.”
On the boardroom table, folders had been arranged at each seat.
Evelyn’s chair stood at the head.
August’s chair.
She did not sit there immediately.
Instead, she entered through a side door after the others had taken their places.
Grant’s back was toward her.
He was speaking to Martin Kessler.
“The transfer has to be signed today,” Grant said. “Once it is approved, there’s no practical way to reverse it.”
Kessler’s gaze lifted.
He saw Evelyn.
His sentence died.
Grant followed his eyes.
The room became silent.
Savannah’s mouth opened.
Margaret gripped the table.
Charles closed his eyes.
Evelyn walked to the head of the room.
“Good morning.”
Grant stood.
“What are you doing here?”
Nathaniel entered behind her.
“Please be seated, Mr. Harper.”
Grant looked around as if expecting someone to laugh.
No one did.
Three board members avoided his eyes.
Kessler remained frozen.
Evelyn placed the cedar box beside her chair.
Margaret spoke first.
“This is a private corporate meeting.”
“Yes,” Evelyn said.
“You cannot be here.”
“Yes,” Evelyn repeated. “I can.”
Nathaniel distributed a one-page document.
Grant read the first lines.
His face lost all expression.
Savannah snatched the page from him.
Margaret did not touch hers.
Charles stared at Evelyn.
“You are August’s granddaughter,” he whispered.
Grant looked at his father.
“You knew?”
Charles did not answer.
Evelyn sat.
“As of Thursday morning, I hold fifty-three percent of Voss Meridian’s voting shares. I am also the controlling beneficiary of the Voss family trust.”
Savannah looked at Grant.
“You told me she had nothing.”
Margaret hissed, “Not now.”
Evelyn continued.
“This meeting was scheduled to review the proposed transfer of Harper Maritime assets into Cole Atlantic Logistics.”
Grant found his voice.
“The proposal is independent of your personal relationship with me.”
“Our relationship is not relevant.”
“You can’t interfere out of spite.”
“I have not mentioned spite.”
“This is retaliation.”
“No. Retaliation would be declining the merger without reading it.”
She opened the folder.
“This is an investigation.”
Kessler pushed his chair back.
“I object to the characterization.”
“Noted.”
Evelyn turned to the first page.
“Mr. Kessler, why did you authorize Harper Maritime to classify an Aston Martin as port inspection equipment?”
Grant looked at Savannah.
Savannah looked at the table.
Kessler’s mouth tightened.
“I did not review individual vehicle purchases.”
“Your digital approval appears on the expense request.”
“It may have been processed by staff.”
“Then your internal controls have failed.”
Evelyn turned a page.
“Why did Voss Meridian approve a twelve-thousand-eight-hundred-dollar payment to a reproductive medicine clinic under the category of executive risk consulting?”
Savannah’s hand flew to her stomach.
Grant’s face darkened.
“This is personal medical information.”
“No,” Evelyn said. “It is a corporate invoice.”
Margaret finally looked at the document before her.
“Grant, what did you do?”
He stared at Evelyn.
“You accessed private records.”
“I read company expenses.”
Savannah stood.
“I don’t have to sit here and be humiliated.”
“No,” Evelyn said. “You don’t.”
Savannah stopped.
“But before you leave, return the necklace.”
Her fingers closed around the diamond pendant.
Grant’s eyes flashed.
“It was a gift.”
“To me,” Evelyn said. “Purchased from our joint account and insured under my name.”
Savannah looked at Grant.
He said nothing.
Slowly, her cheeks burning, she unclasped the necklace.
She placed it on the table.
The click of the diamond against polished wood echoed through the room.
A second payoff.
Small.
Clean.
Unforgettable.
Savannah left without looking back.
Grant remained seated.