The Birthday Vote
Chapter 05 - The Birthday Vote
Victoria proceeded with the trustee meeting even after the bank discovery.
She told directors James was emotionally compromised and had abducted Lily from the birthday event.
Marcus distributed a statement describing Anna’s evidence as the paranoid work of a grieving woman.
By eight o’clock, the dining room at Bennett House had become a boardroom.
James returned with Sarah and two independent trustees.
Lily remained at Sarah’s home with a security officer.
Victoria sat at the head of the table.
“That seat belongs to the chair,” James said.
“I am acting chair until the board determines whether you are capable of serving.”
Marcus presented a medical letter signed by Dr. Paul Reeves, the Bennett family physician. It described James as suffering acute grief recurrence, impaired judgment, and dangerous fixation.
Reeves had not examined him.
The letter was dated three days earlier.
Victoria had prepared to call him unstable before Lily gave him the gift.
Sarah placed Anna’s original trust on the table.
Then the forged version.
Then the bank ledger.
The independent directors began reading.
Marcus attempted to adjourn.
James refused.
Victoria looked toward the door.
Private security entered.
For one second, James believed they had come to remove him.
The security director approached Victoria instead.
“Mrs. Bennett, your authority over the residence and company systems has been suspended pending investigation.”
Victoria stood.
“You work for me.”
“No. The security contract is controlled by Lily Bennett’s trust.”
James had never known that.
Anna designed the trust so the child’s assets could protect the child from adults attempting to capture them.
The board voted to suspend Victoria and Marcus.
Every independent director agreed.
Two family directors abstained.
No one supported them.
Victoria looked at James.
“You believe a dead woman and an eight-year-old over your wife.”
May you like
James thought of the package falling into the trash.
“I believe the records you tried to throw away.”
