Chapter 4 - Victoria Had Already Promised The Building
The gallery occupied a restored limestone building in the historic
district.
It was worth far more than the art business itself.
Three months before the opening, Thomas discovered a letter of intent to
sell the building to Meridian Luxury Hotels.
Purchase price:
$18.5 million.
Thomas had never approved it.
His signature appeared on the draft board consent.
It was not his.
Victoria’s company, Langford Advisory, had arranged the deal.
Ethan had introduced the buyer.
Victoria immediately defended herself.
“It was exploratory.”
Thomas looked at her.
“Then why was there a closing date?”
The letter of intent granted Meridian ninety days of exclusivity.
It also included a break fee payable by Bennett Gallery Holdings if the
seller withdrew without cause.
Claire asked:
“How much?”
Thomas answered:
“Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars.”
Ethan stopped smiling.
Thomas had transferred controlling ownership to Claire’s trust before
the exclusivity period ended.
That meant Victoria could no longer pretend she had authority to bind
the company.
But Thomas had kept the transfer confidential because his lawyers needed
time to determine how far the unauthorized sale had progressed.
If Victoria learned too early, records could disappear.
Victoria looked around the gallery.
“You spied on me.”
Thomas answered:
“I audited my own company.”
Then he looked at Ethan.
“And I found your consulting invoice.”
Ethan’s face went pale.
Meridian had agreed to pay Ethan a success fee if the sale closed.
$900,000.
The public humiliation of Claire suddenly looked very different.
May you like
If Claire was the new controlling owner, Ethan had a financial reason to
want her discredited.
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