Chapter 5 - Emily’s Mother Owned Hidden Shares
Rebecca Carter had died twelve years earlier.
Emily knew her mother had worked in hospitality accounting.
She did not know Rebecca had invested in Harbor House during its
earliest years.
Evelyn explained.
Rebecca and Evelyn had been friends.
When Evelyn opened the first Harbor House restaurant, Rebecca provided
emergency capital.
In exchange, she received eight percent of the company.
Years later, after Rebecca became ill, the shares were placed into a
trust.
Emily was the beneficiary.
“Why didn’t I know?”
“Your mother requested that the trust remain independent until you
turned thirty.”
Emily was twenty-nine.
Her birthday was six weeks away.
Evelyn slid over the trust documents.
At thirty, Emily would gain voting rights.
Eight percent was not control.
But Evelyn owned forty-four percent.
Charles Cole was negotiating to purchase forty-nine percent from several
passive investors.
If he succeeded, Emily’s eight percent could determine who controlled
the company.
Emily stared.
“So Ryan knew who I was.”
“We think so.”
“And Madison?”
“Probably.”
Emily remembered every false complaint.
Every smug visit.
Every moment Ryan tried to provoke her.
“They wanted me fired before I received voting rights.”
Evelyn nodded.
“A terminated employee doesn’t lose inherited shares.”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Evelyn looked toward her attorney.
“Because your mother’s trust contains a morality and management clause.”
If Emily were terminated for serious misconduct involving customers, the
voting rights would remain with an independent trustee for another five
years.
Emily sat back.
That was the motive.
Not humiliation for entertainment.
The humiliation was bait.
Madison had wanted Emily to react badly on camera.
Then a termination record could freeze Emily’s vote during Charles
Cole’s acquisition.
Emily felt anger rise.
But another question bothered her.
“How did Charles know about the trust clause?”
Only Evelyn, the trustee, and the attorneys should have known.
Someone inside Harbor House had leaked confidential documents.
Then Evelyn placed a printed access log on the table.
May you like
The trust file had been opened four times during the previous month.
Every access came from Thomas Whitmore’s management credentials.
