Chapter 9 - The Man Sitting at the Head of the Table
Victor Shaw had known Adrian since childhood.
He taught him how to play chess.
He attended Richard Cole's funeral.
He had stood beside Adrian's hospital bed after the crash.
That betrayal hurt differently.
Adrian didn't confront him.
Not yet.
Instead, he returned to Cole Tower.
Walking.
A cane in his right hand.
Hannah beside him.
When the elevator opened on the executive floor, conversations stopped.
Employees stood.
Someone began clapping.
Then another.
Within seconds the entire floor was applauding.
Adrian almost turned around.
Hannah whispered, “Keep walking.”
He did.
Victor watched from behind the glass doors of the boardroom.
His smile was perfect.
“Remarkable recovery.”
Adrian shook his hand.
“Remarkable.”
Neither man blinked.
The war had begun.
Adrian and Naomi secretly reconstructed the financial network.
Victor had been the architect.
Marcus handled medical facilities and intimidation.
Evan had been manipulated through jealousy.
Grace through fear.
Victor controlled the money.
But Victor realized they were investigating him.
He retaliated publicly.
At an emergency board meeting, he moved to remove Adrian as CEO.
His argument?
Adrian was emotionally compromised.
His relationship with Hannah created conflicts.
His recent medical history raised questions about leadership stability.
And his family scandal had damaged shareholder confidence.
Adrian listened.
Then stood from his chair.
No cane.
The room became silent.
“I spent two years believing the worst thing that could happen to me was losing the use of my legs.”
He looked around the table.
“I was wrong.”
“The worst thing is losing the courage to stand for something when standing costs you.”
He placed Peter's ledger on the table.
Victor's face changed.
Adrian smiled.
“Your turn.”
Victor ran.
Not physically.
Financially.
Within hours he transferred money, destroyed records, and attempted to flee aboard a private jet.
Federal agents stopped him at Teterboro.
But before his arrest, Victor sent Adrian one final message.
A photograph.
Richard Cole.
Alive.
The timestamp was from three months after his supposed death.
May you like
Underneath were four words.
ASK YOUR MOTHER EVERYTHING.
