Chapter 10 - THE LOAN UNDER THE CEO
Eleanor Bennett came to Ellen’s office.
Elegant.
Controlled.
Nothing like Richard when cornered.
She brought a fireproof document pouch.
Inside:
Malcolm’s estate inventory.
One entry:
Bennett Succession DNA Access Authorization.
Status:
Revoked and destroyed after death.
Eleanor had signed as estate coexecutor.
Why destroy?
Because Northbridge became custodian.
Old founder permissions no longer necessary.
Then the authorization used three months ago could not simply be a standing original.
Someone recreated it.
Victor’s explanation changed again.
He admitted requesting a replacement authorization.
From whom?
A private succession registry called Halden Registry Services.
Malcolm used Halden to maintain family governance originals.
After his death, Halden should have taken instructions only from Northbridge.
Victor submitted a request.
Halden sent back a “certified continuing authority.”
Bearing Malcolm’s signature image.
Current date.
Victor assumed it represented a certified copy of predeath authority.
But the document wording made it look newly executed.
Bad system.
Or deliberate manipulation.
Then Eleanor said:
“Halden was not supposed to have authority after Malcolm died.”
Lydia agreed.
Why did they respond?
Unknown.
Then we turned back to Richard.
The bridge loan lender began margin procedures.
Halcyon vote paused.
Vector transaction paused.
Richard’s personal liquidity tightened.
His attorneys asked whether I would sign anything clarifying trust timing.
No.
Northbridge did not need me now.
The valid DNA report already triggered.
I had no reason to negotiate my child’s rights in exchange for marital peace.
Then Richard filed a petition challenging Northbridge interpretation.
Legal.
He had that right.
He argued prenatal testing should not activate descendant rights until live birth because trust language used “living descendant.”
Northbridge pointed to amendment defining verified fetus after twenty four weeks as contingent descendant for stewardship purposes only.
Court would decide.
No instant answer.
Then Ellen asked:
“What do you want?”
“Safety.”
“Beyond that.”
“Nothing from Bennett Meridian.”
“No board seat?”
“No.”
“No settlement tied to company control?”
“No.”
She looked at me.
“You may be entitled to marital claims.”
“That is different.”
Divorce property could be negotiated.
But I would not take corporate control through the baby.
Then Richard’s mother surprised me.
“I agree.”
I looked at Eleanor.
She said:
“Richard expects every person to want what he wants.”
“Control.”
“Yes.”
Then Eleanor admitted she knew about the Halcyon deal.
Supported it initially.
Did she know side agreements?
Not all.
Did she know Richard hid DNA report?
“No.”
Did she know Malcolm’s trust would take votes?
“Yes.”
“Did you warn Richard?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“That the baby had not been born.”
Then:
“He called the trust a dead man’s tantrum.”
That sounded exactly like him.
Then Eleanor told us something else.
Malcolm created one more protection.
If Richard’s proxy suspended for concealment, Northbridge must audit every Founder vote cast in the previous ninety days.
Not automatically reverse.
Audit.
Richard had used Founder votes three weeks earlier to approve something unrelated to Halcyon.
A corporate guarantee.
Beneficiary:
Meridian Vector Labs.
His private company.
Amount:
Twenty five million dollars.
The board thought it was capped at ten.
May you like
Somebody had amended the guarantee schedule after preliminary approval.
Richard’s financial desperation was deeper than anyone knew.
