The Board at Saint Michael’s
Chapter 07 - The Board at Saint Michael’s
The Vale Holdings directors gathered inside Saint Michael’s basement.
No cameras were allowed, but employee representatives filled the rear rows.
Victor did not appear.
His lawyer presented a motion declaring Adrian mentally unfit because he accepted an unknown child as his heir without certified DNA testing.
Adrian agreed to an immediate test.
Sofia and Leo provided samples under independent supervision.
Results would take hours.
The board considered whether Leo’s Carter shares could vote before confirmation.
Then an elderly woman entered the room.
Maria Carter, Sofia’s aunt, had been listed as dead for fifteen years.
She carried the original Carter trust.
Maria explained that Anthony Carter discovered Salvatore and Victor moving from gambling into political corruption. Anthony planned to leave the partnership.
Victor arranged his disappearance.
Salvatore later learned the truth and created the trust as restitution.
Maria kept the original document hidden while posing as a church caretaker.
She had watched Sofia from a distance but never approached because Cross monitored the family.
Sofia’s anger rose.
“You let me believe everyone was dead.”
“I believed distance kept you alive.”
“It kept me alone.”
Maria accepted the words.
The trust document recognized Leo through Sofia’s lineage. DNA was not required for temporary voting authority.
As Leo’s guardian, Sofia cast the Carter shares.
She voted to suspend Victor, freeze all shell-company accounts, and create an independent audit.
Two directors switched sides.
The motion passed.
At that exact moment, every bank account connected to Victor emptied.
He had prepared for defeat.
The money moved into bearer bonds stored at the Vale family mausoleum.
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Salvatore had once said the dead kept better secrets than bankers.
Victor intended to leave the country before nightfall.
