Chapter 13 - GRANT'S LAST OFFER|
Grant requested a private meeting at the Whitmore headquarters.
Holly advised me not to attend alone.
I agreed.
The boardroom looked different without Grant at the head of the table. His chair remained empty, and his nameplate had been removed.
He arrived ten minutes late.
He wore a dark suit and carried no folder.
For once, he looked tired.
“Mara.”
“Grant.”
He glanced at Holly.
“I'd prefer to speak with my wife.”
“She is here with counsel,” Holly replied.
Grant ignored her.
“I want to fix this.”
I looked at him.
“Which part?”
“All of it.”
“You can't fix what happened to Eli by buying him another toy.”
His expression tightened.
“I know I made mistakes.”
“You made decisions.”
“I was under pressure.”
“So was I. Our son was bleeding while I called you forty-eight times.”
He lowered his eyes.
“I should have answered.”
“Yes.”
“I should have come.”
“Yes.”
“I should never have transferred those units.”
I waited.
He looked up.
“Are you satisfied?”
“No.”
His face hardened.
“What do you want from me?”
“The truth.”
“I've told you the truth.”
“No. You've told me whatever version of the truth you thought would keep you comfortable.”
Grant sat down.
“Rachel's daughter needed surgery.”
“And Eli needed blood.”
“I didn't know he would be hurt.”
“You knew another child could need those units.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“Mara, I was trying to help Sophie.”
“Then use your personal money. Don't steal from a medical reserve.”
“I didn't steal.”
“You forged my signature.”
He looked at Holly.
“That's an allegation.”
“We have the server records,” she replied.
Grant's jaw tightened.
He turned back to me.
“I'll give you the penthouse. I'll give you a generous settlement. I'll transfer additional shares. You can have anything you want.”
“I want you to stop trying to control our son.”
“I am his father.”
“Then act like one.”
He leaned forward.
“Sign a private settlement. Withdraw the trustee complaint. Let me return to the company. I'll make sure Eli never wants for anything.”
I looked at him.
“He already has everything he needs.”
“Don't be naïve.”
“I have a job, a home, friends, and a son who knows I will show up when he calls.”
Grant's voice dropped.
“You think you can run this company?”
“I helped build it.”
“You've been away for six years.”
“And yet the original trust still belongs to me.”
He stared.
I placed a document on the table.
It was the independent review notice.
“The trustees are considering permanent removal. The prosecutor is reviewing the blood transfer and the forged documents. The foundation will be placed under independent management.”
Grant pushed the paper away.
“You're destroying me.”
“No. I'm refusing to keep you comfortable.”
He stood.
“You'll regret this.”
Holly rose too.
“Mr. Whitmore, this meeting is over.”
Grant turned toward the door.
Then he stopped.
“One thing, Mara. You should ask your mother what she knows about Arthur Whitmore.”
I frowned.
“My mother is dead.”
“Your adoptive mother, yes. But your biological grandmother isn't.”
I felt the air leave my lungs.
“What?”
Grant looked at me.
“Your father's estate didn't end with him. There's someone else who knows why you were hidden.”
Then he walked out.
I turned to Holly.
May you like
She was already reaching for her phone.
“Find out who he's talking about.”
