Chapter 6 - THE COST OF BECOMING VISIBLE
Mara formally notified Hudson Forge that she would exercise her voting rights personally.
The reaction was immediate.
Ivan called it hostile.
Cynthia called it vindictive.
Three executives called it overdue.
That last group surprised Mara.
Chief operating officer Ethan Powell asked to meet.
So did finance director Rachel Kim.
They chose a conference room at Rebecca’s office rather than Hudson Forge headquarters.
Ethan looked uncomfortable.
“We assumed you were okay with how things worked.”
Mara stared at him.
“Why?”
“Ivan always said you hated corporate stuff.”
“I’m an accountant.”
Rachel looked embarrassed.
“I know.”
“Then why would I hate financial statements?”
Rachel folded her hands.
“Because that’s what he told us.”
Mara leaned back.
The humiliation had never stopped at home.
Ivan had built a professional identity for her.
His wife.
Helpful.
Sensitive.
Not operational.
Not interested.
Meanwhile her name certified majority ownership.
“Did either of you have concerns about Bellweather?” Mara asked.
Rachel answered first.
“Yes.”
“What?”
“The purchase price.”
“And?”
“Thomas Vale has been receiving consulting payments from Hudson Forge already.”
Mara frowned.
“Before we own his company?”
Ethan nodded.
“Market-development work.”
“How much?”
“About two hundred thousand over eighteen months.”
Mara’s eyes narrowed.
“Who approved it?”
Ivan.
Of course.
Rachel continued.
“There’s another thing.”
Mara waited.
“Bellweather owes Hudson Forge money.”
“How much?”
“Just under six hundred thousand.”
“For what?”
“Equipment purchases.”
Mara stared.
Hudson Forge was preparing to pay millions to buy a company that already owed it hundreds of thousands.
“Why wasn’t that netted against the price?”
“It is partially.”
“Partially?”
Rachel looked toward Ethan.
Ethan finally said:
“Thomas threatened bankruptcy if the acquisition didn’t happen.”
There it was.
The deal was not simply growth.
It was rescue.
Ivan was using Hudson Forge to save his friend.
Mara looked at both executives.
“Why are you telling me now?”
Rachel answered honestly.
“Because now you’re asking.”
The sentence lodged inside Mara.
May you like
For years everyone had waited for the person with legal authority to ask questions.
Meanwhile Ivan made sure she believed asking was disloyal.
