Chapter 5 - The Miami Illusion
By Thursday, Daniel was on top of the world.
He reclined on a white leather sofa aboard a forty-foot chartered yacht cruising through Key Biscayne. Madison sat beside him in an oversized sunhat, sipping chilled rosé.
“Everything is lined up,” Daniel said, swiping through his tablet. “The Vantage executives land in Philly at noon tomorrow. The signing is set for three o’clock at the downtown Union League. Once my signature is on that contract, forty million dollars hits the Beacon Crest account. We announce the acquisition on Monday morning, and I resign as CEO by the end of next month.”
“And Claire?” Madison asked casually, applying sunscreen to her collarbone. “Has she signed the updated asset distribution forms?”
Daniel shrugged. “She hasn't answered my texts since Tuesday. She’s probably sulking at home or spending the week hooked up to an IV. It doesn't matter. Her signature isn't legally required for the initial closing as long as I invoke the power-of-attorney proxy she gave me five years ago when we bought the warehouse in Allentown.”
“Is that proxy still valid?”
“She never revoked it,” Daniel laughed arrogantly. “Claire trusts me to handle the financial side. She’s an engineer at heart; she doesn't understand the aggressive maneuvering required at this level. When she realizes what’s happened, I’ll offer her a generous monthly stipend and pay for her hospice or whatever special care she ends up needing. She won't have the energy to contest it in court.”
Madison stroked his jawline. “You’re ruthless, Daniel. I love it.”
Daniel smiled, looking out over the sparkling ocean. He felt invincible. He had shed his past, outmaneuvered his corporate competitors, and acquired a younger, more ambitious companion who didn't remind him of sickness, mortality, or the fading beauty of youth.
His phone buzzed. It was a brief text from Marcus Vance:
Everything is prepared for Friday's 3:00 PM session. The board members have been notified.
Daniel typed a quick reply:
Excellent. Have the champagne chilled. Madison and I will arrive directly from the airport.
May you like
He tossed the phone onto the deck table. He didn't bother checking his home email. He didn't call the cancer center to inquire about his wife's blood test results. He didn't even notice the small electronic notification indicating that his administrative access to Bennett Logistics’ encrypted secure server had been restricted pending an internal audit.
To Daniel, the world was an open highway, and he was the only driver who mattered.
