Chapter 15 - The Board Vote
NexusCore's permanent leadership vote happened nine days after the assault.
The investigation was not complete.
But enough evidence existed for the board to act.
Matthew was invited to respond to the allegations through counsel.
His lawyers submitted ninety-three pages.
The document blamed Lauren.
Blamed Daniel.
Blamed Sterling Capital.
Blamed the board.
Blamed me.
Everyone except Matthew.
The board meeting lasted five hours.
At 4:12 p.m., Henry's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
Then smiled.
"It's done."
My father stood.
"What?"
"Matthew has been terminated for cause."
The words floated through the room.
I felt lighter.
Not happy.
Lighter.
"Vote?"
"Unanimous."
"And his board seat?"
"Removed under the misconduct provisions."
"Daniel?"
"Confirmed as interim CEO for six months."
I sat down.
For years, Matthew's name had been synonymous with NexusCore.
Now a board resolution had separated them in one afternoon.
Henry continued.
"The company will also file civil claims related to Halcyon and TMG."
My father nodded.
"Good."
"There is another issue."
I looked up.
"The board wants Clare to return."
Silence.
I stared at him.
"As what?"
"Executive chair."
I almost laughed.
"No."
My father did not react.
Henry did.
"That was fast."
"I'm not ready."
"They expected you might say that."
"I haven't worked there in three years."
"You built it."
"That doesn't mean I should run it."
My mother walked into the room carrying tea.
"What happened?"
"Dad wants me to become executive chair of NexusCore."
"I did not say that."
My father looked offended.
My mother glanced at him.
"You thought it loudly."
I laughed.
Then winced because my ribs protested.
Henry closed his notebook.
"The board needs someone who can reassure customers about Northstar."
"Then offer them a licensing agreement."
"They also need cultural credibility."
"Daniel has that."
"Clare."
I looked at him.
"Don't let anyone turn your return into a symbolic rescue."
That sentence made me pause.
"What do you mean?"
"If you go back, go because you want to work."
"Not because reporters want a comeback story."
"Not because your father wants his daughter restored."
"Not because employees feel guilty."
"And not because beating Matthew requires sitting in his chair."
My father looked at Henry.
"I hate when you're useful."
Henry ignored him.
I considered the offer.
The idea of walking into NexusCore terrified me.
Every hallway carried memories.
Every conference room contained some version of myself I had abandoned.
But fear was no longer an automatic no.
"What if I return temporarily?"
Henry nodded.
"Define temporarily."
"Ninety days."
My father watched me carefully.
"Doing what?"
"Founder and strategic adviser."
"Not chair."
"No."
"Authority?"
"Only over the Northstar license and the governance remediation plan."
Henry smiled.
"That's very specific."
"I've had time to think."
The board accepted within an hour.
The announcement went out before market close.
NEXUSCORE COFOUNDER CLARE STERLING TO RETURN AS STRATEGIC ADVISER.
The headline looked strange.
May you like
Then familiar.
Then right.
