Chapter 13 - SEVENTY-TWO HOURS
The banks gave them seventy-two hours.
Provide a stabilization plan.
Demonstrate liquidity.
Replace compromised governance.
Or the credit facilities would tighten.
Mason saw opportunity.
If Natalie failed, he could argue that her takeover had damaged the company.
If lenders panicked, he could petition the court to restore management authority.
He began calling directors.
Then investors.
Then former executives.
Natalie did something he never expected.
She called employees.
Hotel general managers.
Restaurant division leaders.
Construction supervisors.
Payroll managers.
She asked one question.
“What breaks first if the banks tighten?”
The answers were not glamorous.
Vendor payments.
Seasonal hiring.
Health benefits.
Construction draws.
Food orders.
Natalie built her plan around those answers.
At hour fifty-eight, Peter entered her office.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Someone leaked the full lender memo.”
“To whom?”
“The press.”
Natalie looked up.
“How damaging?”
“Very.”
Her phone began ringing before he finished the sentence.
News alerts followed.
WHITAKER DEVELOPMENT FACES LIQUIDITY CRISIS AFTER FAMILY POWER STRUGGLE
Mason issued a statement fifteen minutes later.
He called Natalie’s actions “reckless.”
He called himself “deeply concerned for employees.”
He never mentioned the eighty-four-million-dollar hole.
Natalie stared at the television.
“He knew the memo was coming.”
Peter nodded.
“Only five people had it.”
“Who?”
“You.”
“Caroline.”
“Me.”
“Outside restructuring counsel.”
“And?”
Peter hesitated.
“Thomas Hale.”
Natalie turned.
Her cousin.
Benjamin’s only son.
Thomas Hale was forty-one, chief financial officer of the Hale Medical Foundation, and one of the trustees overseeing part of Natalie’s family structure.
He had been quiet since the hospital incident.
Supportive.
Helpful.
Invisible.
Natalie felt something cold move through her.
“Why did Thomas have the memo?”
“Your uncle requested his review of potential foundation exposure.”
Natalie picked up her phone.
Benjamin answered immediately.
“What happened?”
“Where is Thomas?”
A pause.
“Why?”
“Where is he?”
Benjamin’s voice changed.
“At the foundation office.”
May you like
Natalie stood.
“I’m coming.”
