Chapter 3 - THE RECORDING THAT PUT HIM ON HIS KNEES
Adrian finally answered the phone.
“This is not a good time,” he said.
The general counsel’s voice was audible in the silent penthouse.
“The emergency board session begins in fifteen minutes. You are required to attend.”
“I will call remotely.”
“Your system access has been temporarily suspended.”
Adrian looked toward Isabella.
“On whose authority?”
“Under the Vale protection agreement.”
“That agreement does not apply.”
“The board will determine that.”
The call ended.
Adrian lowered the phone slowly.
“You activated the clause.”
“I submitted the evidence.”
“You have no idea what you’ve done. The stock will collapse.”
“The board will announce an internal investigation before the markets open.”
“You think investors will trust you?”
“I don’t need them to trust me tonight. I need them to see what you signed.”
Isabella opened the black folder.
The first page contained the DNA result.
Adrian glanced at it and looked away.
The second was Jonathan’s original protection agreement.
The third displayed transfers Adrian had authorized using Isabella’s forged signature.
Adrian’s breathing changed.
“Vanessa created those documents.”
“She created them because you instructed her to.”
“She is protecting herself.”
“Yes.”
Isabella placed her phone on the table and pressed play.
Adrian’s recorded voice filled the room.
“Once she has no access to the house, accounts or company, she will sign anything.”
He stared at the phone as though it had spoken in someone else’s voice.
Isabella played another section.
“We challenge the baby, remove Isabella from the trust, then sell before the annual audit.”
Adrian moved toward the phone.
She stopped the recording.
“The full file is already with the board.”
“You recorded private conversations.”
“My father’s system recorded an attempted breach of his trust.”
“That will never survive in court.”
“Perhaps not. Vanessa’s testimony will.”
Adrian’s face went pale.
“What did she tell you?”
“Everything.”
He turned away and pressed both hands against the glass window. For several seconds, he stared down at the city.
Then he began talking rapidly.
“Vanessa manipulated the numbers. She told me the company needed restructuring. She said the succession restrictions would destroy the sale.”
“You agreed to deny your son.”
“I was buying time.”
“You had me removed from the hospital’s family suite.”
“My mother arranged that.”
“You froze my accounts.”
“The company was facing a crisis.”
“You threatened to leave your newborn child homeless.”
Adrian turned around.
“I knew you would go to the townhouse.”
Isabella stared at him.
He continued before realizing what he had admitted.
“I knew your father left it to you. You were never truly homeless.”
“You wanted me to believe I was.”
He stepped toward her more slowly this time.
“Isabella, we can repair this.”
“No.”
“We have a child.”
“You remembered that when the DNA report appeared.”
“I was angry. I made terrible decisions.”
“You designed the accusation before he was born.”
“I was trying to protect the company.”
“From its legal owners?”
The baby made a small sound inside the carrier.
Adrian’s expression collapsed.
He looked at the infant as though seeing him for the first time.
“What did you name him?”
Isabella hesitated.
“Jonathan.”
Her father’s name.
Adrian’s eyes filled.
He lowered himself onto one knee.
“Please.”
Isabella did not move.
He raised both hands toward the baby but stopped before touching the carrier.
“Please don’t take my son away.”
“You gave him away before he took his first breath.”
“I was wrong.”
“You were calculated.”
“I will confess to the board. I will return the money. I will remove Vanessa.”
“Vanessa has already removed you.”
His phone vibrated again.
A message appeared from the general counsel.
The board had voted unanimously to suspend Adrian as chief executive.
His access to every company account had been revoked.
Adrian looked up at Isabella from the floor.
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
“You already have it.”
“No. I have the version you tell when you have lost.”
May you like
She picked up the black folder.
“I want the version you were hiding when you believed you had won.”
