Chapter 4 - THE BOARD VOTE
The police did not arrest Claire immediately.
They separated everyone.
Reviewed initial footage.
Took statements.
Claire admitted slapping Daniel.
No excuse.
He had grabbed her after.
Then security restrained her at Daniel’s order.
Victor claimed they believed Claire was a threat.
Possible defense.
Ugly.
Messy.
The corporate problem remained.
The board resolution transferring voting control to Daniel had already been filed internally.
Banks had copies.
Meridian Dynamics had received notice.
Hawthorne Capital had been told Daniel now spoke for the controlling shares.
Claire’s attorney Maya Sloan arrived.
First question:
“Did you sign anything today?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Second:
“Did you say anything about resigning?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Third:
“Did Daniel physically prevent you from leaving?”
“Yes.”
“Witnesses?”
“Three men he hired.”
Maya sighed.
“Complicated witnesses.”
Then she looked at the forged pledge.
“This is not amateur work.”
The signature looked real.
Not traced badly.
Not obviously copied.
Then Claire remembered.
Three years earlier, she signed dozens of estate documents after her father died.
Digital signature packets.
Scanned originals.
Daniel had access to their home office.
Maya asked:
“Could he have obtained a clean signature page?”
“Yes.”
Then the bigger problem.
The stock pledge was notarized.
Notary:
Helen Crowe.
Licensed.
Active.
Longtime Bennett family acquaintance.
Evelyn’s friend.
Then the board minutes.
Two directors voted for Daniel’s temporary authority:
Martin Hales.
Peter Rowe.
Judith voted against.
Noah was not a director.
The fifth board seat had been vacant since Thomas died.
Three votes constituted a quorum only if Claire’s seat was treated as conflicted or incapacitated.
How did they justify that?
Medical declaration.
Claire stared.
“What medical declaration?”
Maya opened another document.
A physician letter stated Claire was experiencing acute stress and temporarily unable to manage complex fiduciary decisions.
Signed:
Dr. Leonard Price.
Claire had seen him once.
Marriage counseling referral.
Not her physician.
Then Maya said:
“They didn’t just forge your signature.”
May you like
She looked at Claire.
“They built a legal architecture around removing your voice.”
