Chapter 7 - The Counterstrike
The public reaction to the press conference was swift and catastrophic for the Winthrops.
By the next morning, the narrative in the media had completely inverted. The public fell in love with the story of the "Maid Princess" and her talented little girl. Social media was flooded with clips of Lucia's dance from the gala night—recorded secretly by a guest before security cleared the room—which had gone viral with over twenty million views.
Meanwhile, Celeste Winthrop became the most hated woman in Boston. Her cruelty toward a six-year-old child was condemned by commentators, and several luxury brands immediately canceled her sponsorship deals.
However, Richard Winthrop was not a man to go down without a desperate, dangerous fight.
Three days after the press conference, Adrian, Eleanor, and I were sitting in the executive boardroom on the top floor of Vale Tower in downtown Boston. Lucia was in the adjoining private playroom with a tutor.
Adrian’s chief financial officer, Marcus Vance, was presenting a series of financial charts on a large screen.
"The stock has recovered completely, Adrian," Vance reported. "In fact, public sympathy and interest in the family story has driven Vale Enterprises shares up by seven percent. However... Winthrop Capital is attempting a hostile maneuver."
Adrian leaned back in his leather chair, his eyes narrowing. "What kind of maneuver?"
"Richard Winthrop is quietly contacting our secondary shareholders," Vance explained. "He’s trying to pool a thirty-five percent voting bloc before the annual shareholder meeting next week. He intends to introduce a motion to remove you as CEO, claiming your sudden cancellation of the merger caused operational instability."
"He needs fifty-one percent to pull that off," Adrian said coolly. "With my thirty percent and Grandmother’s twenty-five percent, we hold an absolute majority of fifty-five percent. He can't win."
Vance looked uncomfortable. He cleared his throat and looked at me.
"Actually, Adrian..." Vance said softly. "Under the terms of the original Vale Trust charter established by your grandfather... because Rose Vale’s share was legally transferred to Clara yesterday... Clara now officially holds twelve and a half percent of the total voting stock."
I looked up, surprised. "I do?"
"Yes," Vance nodded. "And because Eleanor's remaining stock is held in a secondary trust that requires a formal fourteen-day probate review following the reinstatement of a lost heir... Eleanor's voting rights are temporarily suspended for next week’s meeting."
Adrian stood up slowly, calculating the numbers in his head.
"Which means," Adrian realized, his voice turning icy, "that without Eleanor's vote next week, my thirty percent plus Clara's twelve point five percent gives us forty-two point five percent."
"And if Richard Winthrop secures thirty-five percent from the outside shareholders," Vance concluded, "he only needs to convince a few hedge funds to vote with him... and he can strip you of the CEO position."
I felt a sudden cold pit open in my stomach. "So... if I don't know how to use my stock... or if Winthrop finds a way to challenge my vote... he can take Adrian’s company away from him?"
"Exactly," Vance said grimly.
The boardroom door swung open, and Adrian's secretary stepped in, looking pale.
"Mr. Vale," she said hurriedly. "Richard Winthrop and Celeste are downstairs in the lobby. They have brought two process servers and are demanding an emergency meeting with Clara."
Adrian’s face darkened with anger. "Security will throw them out."
"No," I said, standing up from the table.
May you like
Adrian looked at me, surprised. "Clara?"
"Let them come up," I said, my voice calm, cold, and absolute. "It’s time Richard Winthrop learned that my mother’s daughter isn't someone he can push around."
