Chapter 5 - The Emergency Session
Richard Vale hurried down the hallway, his tie undone, his forehead slick with cold sweat. He caught up to Nathaniel just as I was stepping toward the private elevator.
"Claire! Mrs. Hart!" Richard gasped, throwing himself between me and the elevator doors, his hands raised in desperate supplication. "Please! Five minutes! I am begging you on my knees, give me five minutes in the private conference room! Let me explain!"
I stopped. I looked at Richard, then at Nathaniel standing behind him, still looking bewildered and resentful.
"Five minutes, Richard," I said, checking my watch. "Not a second more."
Three minutes later, we were sitting inside the Plaza’s private Executive Suite—a soundproof room lined with dark mahogany and leather armchairs. Joining us were Richard, Nathaniel, Victoria, and Richard’s chief legal counsel, a sharp, stressed man named Marcus Vance who had been summoned from his dinner table five minutes earlier.
Marcus Vance was pale. He had read the preliminary draft of the Meridian Capital investment agreement. He knew that without my signature by 9:00 AM tomorrow, Vale International’s lines of credit would automatically freeze, triggering an immediate cross-default across all their international holdings.
"Mrs. Hart," Marcus Vance began, opening his leather briefcase with rapid, desperate movements. "I want to formally state on behalf of Vale International that the actions of Mr. Nathaniel Vale tonight do not reflect the corporate culture or operational standards of our firm. We are prepared to offer immediate, public restitution."
"What kind of restitution, Vance?" I asked, sitting comfortably in an armchair, completely unbothered by my damp dress.
"Nathaniel will issue a public, recorded apology," Vance said rapidly, glaring at Nathaniel to ensure he didn't protest. "He will resign from his position as Executive Vice President of Development immediately. Furthermore, Vale International is willing to reduce our equity valuation by fifteen percent—effectively giving Meridian Capital an additional seventy million dollars in equity for the same six hundred and fifty million dollar investment."
Victoria Vale gasped. "Fifteen percent?! Marcus, that’s our family’s legacy!"
"Shut up, Victoria!" Richard screamed, slamming his fist onto the conference table. "If she doesn't sign, we don't have a legacy! We have a bankruptcy auction!"
Richard turned back to me, his eyes bloodshot, tears of genuine panic brimming on his lower eyelids.
"Mrs. Hart... Evelyn," Richard pleaded, leaning across the mahogany wood. "Seventy million dollars in free equity. A full public apology. Anything you want. Rename the new commercial tower after yourself! Just sign the authorization. If the market opens tomorrow without news of the Meridian investment, our stock will drop seventy percent in the first thirty minutes of trading. We will be ruined."
I listened quietly, watching the three of them.
Nathaniel was staring at the table, his ego thoroughly crushed, but his eyes still harboring deep, bitter resentment. Victoria was clutching her diamond necklace, terrified of losing her social standing. Richard was groveling, willing to throw his own son under the bus to save his money.
None of them were sorry for what they had done. They were only sorry that the woman they had targeted happened to own the bank.
I pulled my sleek black phone from my clutch, unlocked the screen, and tapped a green icon.
"Julian," I said, putting the phone on speakerphone and resting it on the polished mahogany table.
"Good evening, Chairwoman," the crisp, British voice of my Managing Director echoed clearly through the silent room. "I trust the gala was entertaining?"
"Julian, cancel the six hundred and fifty million dollar liquidity facility for Vale International," I ordered calmly. "Instruct our legal team to draft an immediate notice of default regarding their secondary mezzanine debt, which Meridian acquired last month through our European subsidiary."
Richard Vale let out a strangled, choked cry. "No... no, please God, no!"
"Understood, Chairwoman," Julian replied without a single second of hesitation. "Shall I initiate the short-position hedge on Vale International common stock as per our risk-management protocol?"
"Yes," I said smoothly. "Execute the short positions at market open. Notify the Securities and Exchange Commission that our due diligence team has uncovered significant undisclosed debt obligations within their offshore subsidiaries."
"Right away, Chairwoman. The filings will be completed before midnight."
"Thank you, Julian."
May you like
I ended the call and placed the phone back into my purse.
The silence in the conference room was absolute. It was the silence of a tomb.
