Chapter 6 - THE LAST THING HE CALLED HIS
The meeting took place in the construction company’s conference room.
Alistair sat at the head of the table until Dad asked him to move.
Sharon remained beside him. Piper sat across from them with separate counsel. The company’s outside directors, bank representative and forensic accountant attended because the meeting concerned corporate control, not only our marriage.
I left Nolan with a trusted neighbor.
Alistair began by blaming financial pressure.
“The wall claim could’ve destroyed us. Thomas demanded impossible margins, Nicole spent without understanding the business, and Piper needed help after her divorce.”
“I spent grocery money,” I said. “You spent company money hiding assets.”
“You lived in a mansion.”
“On land you stole from my trust.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I was going to correct the title.”
“After the lawsuit?”
“After the company was safe.”
The injured worker’s attorney had already produced Elena Park’s warning, payroll records and the photograph from Mason’s tablet. Alistair could no longer deny knowing the wall was unsafe.
He changed tactics.
He claimed Sharon had directed the transfers.
Sharon turned toward him slowly.
“You signed every one.”
“You told me Dad would take the company.”
“He would have.”
Dad placed the investment agreement on the table.
“I would’ve required the wall to be rebuilt. That was the threat you were avoiding.”
Alistair’s attorney advised him to stop speaking.
He ignored the warning.
“If I had stopped that project, we would’ve missed the quarter. Thomas would’ve used it to humiliate me again.”
Dad did not defend himself.
“I gave you reasons to fear failure,” he said. “I did not tell you to endanger a worker, forge your wife’s name or strike your son.”
Sharon looked at me.
“You turned a family discipline issue into a corporate execution.”
“Nolan asked for cake.”
“He embarrassed his father.”
“No. He showed us who his father had become.”
Piper described the shell accounts and agreed to surrender her interest in Red Mesa. The bank representative confirmed that the false leases violated the company’s loan covenants. The outside directors voted to remove Alistair as chief executive while civil and criminal investigations continued.
Dad voted last.
Then I placed my wedding ring beside the forged deed.
“I’m filing for divorce.”
Alistair looked at the ring rather than at me.
May you like
“You’re taking my son, my house and my company.”
“No,” I said. “You treated all three like property. That’s why you’re losing your right to control them.”
