Chapter 6 - Vanessa Needed Emily Discredited Tonight
Daniel’s attorney reviewed the marriage documents.
Most were standard.
One was not.
A post-marriage voting proxy would have allowed Vanessa to participate
in decisions involving Daniel’s shares if he became unavailable or
incapacitated.
It would not give her ownership automatically.
But combined with the disputed Hale trust structure, it created
leverage.
Margaret had pushed for the proxy.
Vanessa had pushed for the wedding to happen before the end of the
quarter.
Why?
A board vote was scheduled in ten days.
Hale Hospitality planned to sell two older hotel properties.
Emily’s twelve-percent interest could affect the required threshold.
If Emily appeared to be a thief who had stolen family jewelry at
Daniel’s wedding, her credibility would collapse before she ever
presented Richard’s documents.
The planted bracelet was not about getting a waitress fired.
It was about creating a public record.
A room full of wealthy witnesses.
Phones recording.
Security reports.
A convenient scandal.
Emily looked at Daniel.
“They wanted me discredited before I knew I had anything worth using.”
Daniel’s face went cold.
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And for the first time, ending the wedding no longer felt emotional.
It felt necessary.
