Chapter 12 - THE COMPANY WAR
Charles’s message was not intended only for Nathan.
Within minutes, copies appeared online.
Someone had uploaded the footage through multiple anonymous accounts.
The image of Grace tied to a chair was blurred before public release, but Charles’s words spread rapidly.
Financial networks interpreted it as the unraveling of one of Chicago’s most powerful business dynasties.
Whitmore Holdings stock plunged.
Banks froze credit lines.
Board members demanded answers.
Nathan realized the public chaos was part of Charles’s plan.
“Why destroy his own company?”
Daniel answered through the command vehicle speaker.
“Because if the stock falls far enough, entities he controls could buy shares cheaply.”
Nathan frowned.
“He wants to rebuild ownership before the trust transfer is recognized.”
“Exactly.”
Nathan looked at the warehouse.
“So Grace is a distraction.”
Daniel paused.
“Partly.”
Nathan’s jaw tightened.
“She is not a distraction.”
“I know.”
Federal agents prepared to enter.
Then Charles sent another message.
ONE MAN ENTERS.
OR GRACE LEAVES BY WATER.
A helicopter camera showed a speedboat idling at the rear dock.
Nathan knew what Charles wanted.
He wanted Nathan separated from law enforcement.
He wanted leverage.
The lead agent refused.
“You are not going inside.”
Nathan looked at the warehouse.
“Then he moves her.”
“We can stop the boat.”
“Can you guarantee that?”
The agent said nothing.
Nathan put on a concealed transmitter.
“No weapons.”
“No sudden movements.”
“You follow every instruction.”
Nathan nodded.
He entered Terminal Seven alone.
The warehouse doors closed behind him.
Grace saw him immediately.
“Nathan, no!”
Charles smiled.
“Romantic.”
Nathan ignored him.
His eyes stayed on Grace.
“Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
Martin stood beside her with a handgun.
Nathan looked at Charles.
“Let her go.”
Charles laughed.
“You never learned patience.”
“I learned enough to know you don’t have an exit.”
Charles walked toward him.
“I have many exits.”
“Your attorney is cooperating.”
Charles’s expression barely moved.
“Leonard is weak.”
“Victoria is alive.”
A flicker of anger appeared.
“She is sentimental.”
“The ledger is with federal prosecutors.”
“I assumed so.”
Nathan studied him.
“Then why am I here?”
Charles smiled.
“There.”
“That is finally the right question.”
He gestured toward a table.
A contract waited.
Nathan looked down.
It transferred Nathan’s voting rights in the Cole Family Development Trust to a newly formed entity.
Charles Whitmore controlled it.
Nathan almost laughed.
“You abducted Grace to make me sign stock documents?”
Charles looked offended.
“These are not stock documents.”
“They are history.”
Nathan stared at him.
Charles continued.
“My father built Whitmore Holdings.”
“Your grandfather nearly destroyed it.”
“The Cole Trust was a temporary arrangement.”
“Then your family spent thirty years pretending it belonged to you.”
Nathan shook his head.
“You forged records.”
“I corrected an imbalance.”
“You murdered people.”
Charles’s eyes hardened.
“I removed threats.”
Grace stared at him with disgust.
“You killed my father because he found invoices.”
Charles turned toward her.
“Your father died because he confused morality with immunity.”
Nathan stepped forward.
Martin raised the gun.
Charles smiled.
“Careful.”
Nathan stopped.
Charles pushed a pen toward him.
“Sign.”
“No.”
Martin pressed the gun against Grace’s shoulder.
Nathan’s eyes changed.
Grace shook her head.
“Do not.”
Charles watched Nathan.
“Sign.”
Nathan picked up the pen.
Grace shouted.
“Nathan!”
He looked at her.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Do not give him everything because of me.”
Nathan smiled faintly.
“You still think this is about the company?”
Grace stared at him.
Nathan signed.
Charles exhaled.
“Wise.”
Nathan placed the pen down.
Then smiled.
Charles frowned.
“What?”
Nathan looked at the document.
“My signature requires trustee authentication for any transfer.”
Charles’s face changed.
“Daniel Reeves already revoked my digital authorization two hours ago.”
Charles stared at him.
Nathan continued.
“You made me sign a worthless piece of paper.”
Martin struck Grace across the shoulder.
She cried out.
Nathan lunged.
A gunshot exploded.
The warehouse erupted.
Federal agents breached three entrances simultaneously.
Nathan tackled Martin.
The gun slid across the floor.
Grace kicked it away.
Charles ran toward the dock.
Nathan struck Martin once.
Then again.
An agent pulled Nathan back.
“Go!”
Nathan ran after Charles.
Charles reached the rear platform.
The speedboat moved toward him.
Nathan saw the driver.
Victoria.
He stopped.
Charles froze too.
Victoria stood behind the wheel.
Her face was bruised.
But her eyes were clear.
Charles shouted.
“Get closer!”
Victoria did not move.
Charles stared at her.
“Victoria!”
She lifted a small microphone.
“I heard everything.”
Charles’s face turned white.
Nathan understood.
Victoria had been working with federal agents.
Charles backed away from the dock.
Agents appeared behind him.
For the first time, Charles Whitmore had nowhere to go.
He looked at Nathan.
Then Grace.
Then his daughter.
His entire empire had collapsed into twenty feet of concrete.
An agent stepped forward.
“Charles Whitmore.”
“You are under arrest.”
Charles smiled.
“You think this ends because you put handcuffs on me?”
The agent grabbed his wrist.
Charles looked directly at Nathan.
“Ask Grace who paid her hospital bill when Lily was born.”
Nathan frowned.
Grace stared at Charles.
Charles smiled wider.
“Ask her why your daughter’s blood was collected twice that day.”
Grace went pale.
Nathan felt dread return.
Charles continued as agents restrained him.
May you like
“You still don’t understand what Lily is.”
*
