My Family Sold Me For $7 Million. I Owned Their Building Chapter 08
The bank records glowed on the screen like a death sentence.
The minority shareholders were the first to turn.
A balding man shot to his feet and slammed his coffee cup on the table.
“You lying bastard, Richard. You told us Diane owned South Harbor. You used someone else’s property to steal our investment money.”
Another shareholder joined him.
“Return our capital immediately. If you don’t, we’ll file a joint action for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty today.”
The room erupted.
Shareholders crowded around Richard. In the pushing and shouting, his carefully styled hair fell over his forehead. Within seconds, the polished chief executive looked like a cornered criminal.
Victor climbed to his feet, assessed the shifting balance of power, and joined the attack.
“I’ll testify. Richard did more than deceive his shareholders. He forged Hawthorne Global’s letter of intent.”
Victor pulled a folded document from his jacket and held it up.
“He showed me this and promised that a seven-million-dollar investment would buy me priority status on every Hawthorne project.”
He offered the paper to Ethan with both hands.
“Look at that fake corporate seal. The man has no respect for the law.”
Richard panicked.
“Victor, you liar. That letter was your…”
“My what?”
Victor cut him off with an expression of righteous outrage.
“I may not have an Ivy League education, but I obey the law. I was about to call the police myself.”
Rapid footsteps sounded in the hall.
Two detectives from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Financial Frauds Bureau entered with two uniformed officers. The lead detective displayed his badge and a warrant.
“Richard Monroe, stand and keep your hands where we can see them.”
Richard’s legs failed. He collapsed into his chair.
“A judge signed a search warrant for these offices and an arrest warrant for you this morning. The supporting affidavits allege forgery, grand larceny, and securities fraud by Monroe Holdings.”
The detective approached him.
“You are under arrest.”
Two officers took Richard by the arms.
Diane finally understood what was happening. She threw herself at him and clung to his sleeve.
“You can’t take him. Richard, what will happen to me if you go to jail?”
Tears cut tracks through her foundation. She turned to me.
“Avery, help your father. You have more than enough money. Pay what he owes. You can’t stand there and let him go to prison.”
I studied the streaks on her face.
“My last name may still be Monroe, but I am not your emergency fund.”
My hand tightened on my knee before I forced it to relax.
“You demanded that agreement. You handed me the documents yourself. As far as your debts and your estate are concerned, I am a third party watching your company fail.”
Diane released Richard and crumpled to the floor.
Chloe hid in a corner, barely breathing. She was trying to make herself invisible so the police would not take her too.
When the officers led Richard out, Victor let out a long breath and edged toward the door.
“Why the hurry, Victor?”
Adrian’s quiet voice pinned him in place.
Ethan removed two more reports from his case and handed them to the second detective.
“These may support your office’s existing Warren Group investigation. Two subsidiaries appear to have falsified tax records and raised nearly forty million dollars through unregistered securities offerings.”
Victor’s face turned ashen.
The second detective studied the cover sheets, then looked at Victor.
“Victor, the federal task force asked us to detain you on an outstanding warrant if you appeared today. Turn around and place your hands behind your back.”
“Adrian, you don’t have to destroy me.”
“I don’t,” Adrian said. “You managed that without my help.”
He turned and headed for the door.
When he reached me, he stopped.
“The show is over, Avery. Are you coming?”