My Family Sold Me For $7 Million. I Owned Their Building Chapter 04
The next morning, I sat at the far end of the executive conference table on the top floor of Monroe Holdings.
Richard occupied the chair at the head. Shadows darkened the skin under his eyes. Diane and Chloe sat to his right.
My sack rested beside my feet.
Chloe leaned toward our mother.
“Why is she here? She even brought that disgusting bag. She’s humiliating us.”
Diane signaled to Mr. Lewis.
He approached me with stiff formality.
“Ms. Monroe, this meeting is for company executives. Please come with me.”
I folded my hands on the table.
“With the stock in free fall, why shouldn’t a shareholder attend?”
Chloe burst out laughing.
“You bought a few shares with Dad’s fifteen thousand dollars and now you think you belong in the boardroom? Get out before Victor arrives to sign the financing agreement.”
Several minority shareholders murmured their agreement.
I took a folded document from my pocket and slid it toward the center of the table.
“This is the Schedule 13D my attorneys filed with the SEC before the market opened. Over the last three days, agents acting on my behalf bought blocks from two institutional holders, converted distressed debt into equity, and acquired shares on the open market. I now control thirty percent of Monroe Holdings.”
I looked at Richard.
“The exchange has been notified, and every required beneficial ownership disclosure is on file. Under the corporate bylaws, that makes me the company’s second-largest shareholder. We can begin.”
Richard snatched up the document. His face changed as he read.
“Where did you get this kind of money? Even at today’s price, thirty percent cost tens of millions. You grew up in the middle of nowhere. Where could you possibly have found it?”
“That isn’t relevant to the agenda.”
I leaned back in my chair.
“Call the meeting to order.”
The doors opened. Victor entered with an attorney at his side. He wore a dark burgundy suit and slapped a contract onto the table.
“Richard, the seven million is ready to transfer. Where is the South Harbor title file and the trustee’s authorization? Produce them, sign the security agreement, and the money will be in your account.”
Richard wiped his forehead and turned to Diane.
“Did you bring the title file?”
She stared at him.
“What title file? I thought the South Harbor records were in the company safe.”
“I told you yesterday to get it from the bank’s safe deposit box.”
“You never said that. I spent all day helping Chloe with her wedding dress.”
They began arguing in front of the shareholders.
Victor slammed his palm on the table and stood.
“Enough. Did you think you could take my money without collateral?”
He turned toward the door. Chloe hurried after him and grabbed his arm.
“Please don’t be angry. The original trust documents have to be at the house. Someone must have taken them.”
Her gaze landed on my sack.
“Dad, Avery was at the house yesterday. She wouldn’t let anyone near that bag. She must have hidden the title documents inside it.”
Every face turned toward me.
Richard strode over as if Chloe had handed him a life preserver.
“Open the sack, Avery.”
I planted one shoe on the handle.
“It’s private property. No.”
“That’s practically a confession.”
Chloe lunged for it.
“Victor can sign as soon as we find the documents.”
Victor’s voice went flat.
“This is your idea of good faith, Richard? You can’t control one girl?”
Richard pointed at the security guards by the doors.
“Dump everything out. Let’s see what she’s hiding.”
The guards advanced.
I hooked the sack with my toe and pushed it under my chair.
A message from Daniel appeared on my phone.
[Adrian Hawthorne just entered the building.]
I rose and faced Richard.
“Are you sure you want to open it? Once you do, there are things you won’t be able to undo.”
“Enough of your threats,” he shouted.
One guard seized each of my shoulders.
I did not resist. I only watched my father.
Mr. Lewis crawled beneath the table, yanked out the sack, and hauled it into the air.
The brittle plastic zipper tore with a loud rip.
The bag flipped upside down.
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