Chapter 7 - The Boardroom StingTwo weeks later, the final corporate auction of Cross Grand Hotels took place at the Downtown Commerce Center.
Because of the twelve-million-dollar loan default and subsequent fraud investigation, the entire hotel chain was put up for public bankruptcy auction.
Danielâs father, Arthur Cross Sr., sat in the front row of the auction room, wearing a rumpled, unpressed suit, looking completely defeated. He had spent thirty years building his hotel business, only to watch his wife and son destroy it in a single evening of arrogant cruelty.
When the bidding opened at eight million dollars, a sharp, authoritative voice called out from the back of the room:
âTen million dollars. Cash.â
The room turned to look.
My father, Robert Hart, stood at the back of the room, wearing a tailored charcoal suit, his hands resting calmly in his pockets.
The auctioneer blinked, looking at his screen. âBid stands at ten million from Hartwell Capital. Any further bids?â
No one spoke. The room was dead silent.
âSold!â the auctioneer struck the gavel. âTo Hartwell Capital!â
Arthur Cross Sr. slowly turned around, looking at my father with hollow, bloodshot eyes.
âWhy...?â Arthur Sr. whimpered, his voice trembling. âWhy did you destroy us? We were business partners...â
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My father walked down the center aisle, stopping right beside Arthur Sr.âs chair.
âYou didn't raise a son, Arthur,â my father said quietly. âYou raised a predator. And when your family put their hands on my daughter, you forfeited everything you built.â
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