Chapter 11 - The Boardroom Trap
Friday morning arrived with rain.
Richard entered Harrington Development headquarters at 8:52 a.m.
He wore a dark blue suit and the expression of a man trying to pretend his world was not collapsing.
Seven board members waited inside the conference room.
Charles Voss attended through video.
Stephen Mercer sat beside Richard.
At 9:04, Richard called the meeting to order.
"Due to Khloe's medical incapacity, I'll be chairing."
One board member cleared his throat.
"Has her incapacity been legally established?"
Stephen Mercer answered.
"The documentation is sufficient."
It wasn't.
But they did not know Harrison had already obtained the forged versions.
Richard presented the proposed sale.
Voss Capital would purchase the East Mercer property for $210 million.
The price sounded enormous.
The land's projected value after rezoning was closer to $480 million.
Richard called it an opportunity.
One director called it theft.
The room divided.
Then the conference room doors opened.
Harrison entered first.
Every conversation stopped.
Behind him came Khloe.
She was in a wheelchair.
Her left wrist was casted.
A thin scar marked her temple.
Her body was still recovering.
But her eyes were clear.
Richard stood so quickly his chair rolled backward.
"Khloe?"
She looked at him.
"Surprised?"
"You shouldn't be here."
"It's my company."
"You're under medical care."
"Thank you for your concern."
The sarcasm cut cleanly.
Stephen Mercer rose.
"This is a private board meeting."
Harrison looked at him.
"I'm counsel for the majority shareholder."
"You have no—"
"Sit down, Stephen."
Something in Harrison's voice worked.
Stephen sat.
Khloe rolled to the end of the table.
Richard tried to regain control.
"We can discuss this privately."
"No."
"Khloe."
"You've done enough things privately."
The board members exchanged looks.
Richard's face darkened.
"I called this meeting."
"And I'm ending it."
"You can't."
Khloe opened a leather folder.
"Article Nine."
Richard stared at her.
She read.
"Any sale, pledge, transfer, or encumbrance involving the East Mercer property requires written approval from the founder's designated heir."
She placed the bylaws on the table.
"That's me."
Voss's face on the screen changed.
Stephen Mercer reached for the document.
Harrison stopped him.
"You have a copy."
Richard looked toward Stephen.
"You said majority approval was enough."
Stephen's face turned pale.
Voss spoke through the monitor.
"Richard."
Richard looked at him.
Voss's tone was calm.
"Did you know about this?"
"No."
Khloe almost laughed.
"That's the problem with stealing a company you never bothered to understand."
Richard's control cracked.
"You think this is funny?"
"No."
Khloe's voice hardened.
"I think my daughter almost died because you were desperate to sell something that wasn't yours."
Several board members went still.
Richard looked toward the door.
Two detectives entered.
Then the District Attorney.
Richard's face drained.
"What is this?"
The prosecutor held a warrant.
"Richard Harrington, you're under arrest."
Richard stepped backward.
"For what?"
"Conspiracy."
"Forgery."
"Corporate fraud."
"Attempted unlawful transfer of assets."
"And additional charges pending investigation."
Richard looked at Harrison.
"You did this."
Harrison shook his head.
"No."
He glanced toward Khloe.
"She survived you."
Richard lunged toward the conference table.
A detective grabbed his arm.
Then his eyes moved to the screen.
May you like
"Voss!"
Charles Voss had already disconnected.
