Chapter 10 - THE BOARDROOM TRAITOR
The Cross Industries board assembled at seven the next morning.
Twelve directors sat around a forty-foot walnut table overlooking the Chicago River.
Nathaniel stood at its head.
Carol sat beside Arthur against the far wall.
Normally, spouses and foundation directors did not attend corporate emergency sessions.
Today was different.
Nathaniel looked at the people who had known his family for decades.
“Someone in this room helped Julian Cross.”
Silence.
Several directors exchanged startled looks.
Board chairman Everett Sloan laughed nervously.
“Julian is dead.”
Nathaniel clicked a remote.
The photograph of Julian and David appeared.
Everett’s smile vanished.
“He’s alive.”
Director Susan Trent leaned forward.
“How?”
“That is not today’s question.”
Nathaniel displayed server logs.
“Malcolm Cross’s credentials were reactivated eleven days ago.”
General counsel Peter Mallory shook his head.
“Only three people can authorize restoration of archived executive accounts.”
Nathaniel nodded.
“You.”
Peter paled.
“Arthur.”
Arthur crossed his arms.
“And Everett.”
Everyone looked toward the chairman.
Everett scoffed.
“This is absurd.”
Nathaniel watched him carefully.
Everett had served Malcolm for thirty years.
He had attended Julian’s memorial.
He had hugged Nathaniel after Malcolm’s funeral.
“Give Arthur your phone.”
“No.”
The room went still.
Nathaniel’s voice softened.
“Excuse me?”
“My personal device contains privileged communications.”
Arthur stepped forward.
Everett stood.
“I will not submit to some private-security interrogation.”
Carol noticed his hand moving toward his briefcase.
“Arthur.”
Arthur saw it too.
He crossed the room instantly.
Everett grabbed the briefcase.
Arthur twisted his wrist and slammed him against the table.
A pistol fell onto the carpet.
Directors screamed.
Nathaniel didn’t move.
Arthur cuffed Everett.
“You want to explain that?”
Everett’s façade shattered.
“You destroyed this company!”
Nathaniel stared.
“You worked for my father.”
“I built this empire with him!”
“And Julian?”
“Julian understood what Cross Industries was supposed to be!”
Everett spat the words.
“Power. Discipline. Fear.”
His eyes flicked toward Carol.
“Not charity projects and subsidized apartments for women who made bad choices.”
Nathaniel moved so quickly Arthur barely stopped him.
“Boss.”
Carol rose.
Everett smiled cruelly.
“That’s your weakness.”
Nathaniel’s fists clenched.
“She turned you soft.”
Carol walked toward Everett.
Nathaniel whispered, “Carol.”
She ignored him.
Everett sneered.
“Housekeeper to queen. Impressive.”
Carol stopped inches away.
“You know what’s funny?”
He frowned.
“You and Vanessa always thought calling me a maid would embarrass me.”
She smiled.
“I worked for every dollar I earned.”
Everett’s expression tightened.
“I cleaned floors. I scrubbed bathrooms. I raised my daughter. I buried my husband.”
Her voice hardened.
“There is nothing shameful about work.”
Several directors looked down.
“The shame belongs to people who wear expensive suits while stealing from the workers who built their fortunes.”
Everett lunged.
Arthur slammed him back down.
Carol didn’t flinch.
Nathaniel nearly smiled.
Arthur searched Everett’s briefcase.
Inside were two passports, cash, and a satellite phone.
He powered it on.
Recent message:
TRANSFER COMPLETE. PHASE TWO TONIGHT.
Nathaniel leaned over.
“What is Phase Two?”
Everett laughed.
“You’ll know.”
Arthur tightened the cuffs.
Everett winced.
Nathaniel’s voice became quiet.
“If Phase Two targets Carol or Ivy—”
“Oh, it doesn’t.”
Everett grinned.
“It targets you.”
At that moment, the conference room lights flickered.
Then went dark.
Emergency alarms began screaming.
Arthur drew his weapon.
“Everybody down!”
The glass elevator outside the boardroom suddenly began descending.
Nathaniel looked toward it.
The elevator should not move during a security lockdown.
Arthur checked his radio.
“No response from lobby security.”
Carol grabbed Nathaniel’s arm.
Something metallic rolled beneath the conference-room doors.
Arthur saw it.
“Gas!”
White vapor erupted.
Panic exploded.
Arthur pulled Carol toward an emergency exit.
Nathaniel tried to follow.
A masked figure crashed through the side entrance.
Then another.
Nathaniel fought the first attacker, driving him into the wall.
A second struck Nathaniel across the back with a stun baton.
“Nathaniel!”
Carol screamed.
He dropped to one knee.
Arthur fired.
The attackers retreated.
But a third man appeared behind Nathaniel.
A cloth pressed over his face.
Nathaniel struggled.
The room blurred.
His last sight was Carol fighting to reach him while Arthur held her back.
Then everything disappeared.
When Nathaniel woke, his wrists were chained to a steel chair.
A single light swung above him.
Footsteps approached.
Julian Cross emerged from the darkness.
Older.
Thinner.
May you like
Smiling.
“Welcome back, little brother.”
