Chapter 4 - The Corporate Trap
While the drama unfolded within the walls of the estate, Nathaniel was fighting a battle of his own in the corporate high-rises of Manhattan. The board members of Whitmore Logistics were growing restless. Rumors of Margaret’s "accident" had leaked to the press, and the stock price was experiencing volatile swings.
Nathaniel sat at the head of the massive boardroom table, his laptop open, analyzing the latest financial reports. Across from him sat Marcus Vance, the family's chief legal counsel and a lifelong friend of his mother.
"The board is pushing for a statement, Nathaniel," Marcus said, rubbing his tired eyes. "They want to know if Margaret is returning to her seat as Chairperson, or if you are taking full control. And the press is asking questions about the wedding. Is it still on for May?"
"The wedding is the least of my concerns right now, Marcus," Nathaniel said coldly. He closed his laptop. "I need you to do something for me. Keep this completely confidential. I want a full forensic audit of Vivien Cole’s personal accounts. Not just the surface level stuff her family provided for the prenup. I want to see her credit lines, her overseas accounts, and any transactions made in the last ninety days."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Nathaniel, that’s a severe breach of privacy for your fiancée. If she finds out—"
"Just do it," Nathaniel commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. "And Marcus? Look into a company called Apex Holdings. I saw a document on Vivien’s desk last week with their logo. See if there’s any connection between them and our logistics competitors."
A dark suspicion had been brewing in Nathaniel's mind. Vivien wasn't just desperate for money; her timing was too perfect. The board members who had been pushing for his relocation to Chicago were the same ones who had recently bought large shares in Apex Holdings. If Margaret was out of the picture, and Nathaniel was distracted by a family tragedy and a sudden wedding, the board could easily push through a merger that would strip the Whitmore family of their majority control.
Was Vivien working alone, or was she a pawn in a larger corporate takeover?
By the time Nathaniel returned to Greenwich late that night, the house was dark. He walked softly up the stairs, avoiding the steps that creaked. As he passed the second-floor landing, he stopped, staring down the long marble flight where his mother had almost lost her life.
Suddenly, a door clicked open behind him.
He turned to see Vivien standing in the doorway of her bedroom, wearing a silk robe. She looked tired, but her eyes were sharp.
"You're home late," she said softly, walking over to him.
"Corporate drama," he replied, forcing a weary smile. "The board is circling like vultures."
Vivien wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning her head against his chest. "I hate seeing you like this, darling. So stressed. Maybe we should expedite the wedding. Just a small, private ceremony next week. It would show the board stability, and we wouldn't have to wait for your mother to recover. We could take over the chairmanship together."
Nathaniel felt a jolt of ice in his veins. Take over the chairmanship together.
There it was. The ultimate motive. Under the current bylaws, if Nathaniel married before the age of thirty-five without his mother's written consent, his voting shares in the company would be split equally with his spouse to ensure "family unity." If they married while Margaret was incapacitated, Vivien would instantly hold 25% of the voting power of Whitmore Logistics. Combined with the rogue board members, she could force the merger with Apex Holdings.
"That’s an interesting idea," Nathaniel said, his voice entirely neutral as he smoothed her hair. "Let me think about it. The board meets again on Tuesday. Let’s see how things look then."
"Don't wait too long, Nathaniel," Vivien whispered, kissing his jaw. "Opportunities don't wait."
As she turned back to her room, Nathaniel felt a profound sense of disgust. The woman he had shared his bed with for three years was a monster. But as he walked toward his own study, a small shadow caught his attention at the end of the east wing corridor.
It was Rosa. She was standing in the darkness, watching him.
May you like
When she saw him look her way, she didn't run. Instead, she gave a slow, deliberate nod, then vanished back into the shadows.
Nathaniel knew then that the game was about to change.
