Chapter 14 - PRISCILLA’S CHOICE
Thomas Roberson had never appeared in the black folder.
That was what made the revelation terrifying.
He had been too careful.
Gavin read the rest of William’s letter.
Thomas believes the company belongs to him.
He has been using Harbor acquisitions to move money through outside partnerships.
Charles provides political access.
Thomas provides corporate cover.
If I expose one, I expose both.
Evelyn cried quietly.
“I never knew.”
Gavin looked at her.
“You trusted him.”
“He was William’s brother.”
“So did I.”
For twelve years, Thomas had sat beside Gavin in board meetings.
Advised him.
Comforted him after his father died.
Encouraged him to stop “obsessing” over unanswered questions.
He had even supported Gavin’s engagement to Priscilla.
Gavin suddenly remembered the dinner where Priscilla first met the family.
Thomas had loved her immediately.
Of course he had.
Gavin called Eric.
“Where is my uncle?”
“Roberson headquarters.”
“Doing what?”
“Emergency board meeting.”
Gavin froze.
“What emergency board meeting?”
Eric paused.
“The board received a notice twenty minutes ago.”
Gavin checked his email.
Nothing.
Marcus checked his.
He had received one.
MEETING TO ADDRESS EXECUTIVE INSTABILITY AND MATERIAL REPUTATIONAL RISK.
Gavin almost laughed.
“They’re removing me.”
Marcus stared.
“They can’t.”
“They can if enough directors vote.”
Evelyn stood.
“Thomas planned this.”
Gavin nodded.
The engagement scandal.
The leaked photos.
The senator at the penthouse.
All of it could be framed as evidence that Gavin was emotionally unstable.
Just like Evelyn.
The same tactic.
Different target.
Priscilla arrived ten minutes later.
Gavin looked at her.
“You knew about Thomas?”
Her face answered before she spoke.
“Yes.”
Evelyn inhaled sharply.
Gavin’s voice dropped.
“How long?”
“Since before we met.”
He turned away.
Priscilla continued.
“My father called him Uncle Tom even though they weren’t related.”
Gavin laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
“They’ve worked together for years.”
“And you never thought that was worth mentioning?”
“I was part of the plan.”
Silence.
Priscilla looked at him.
“I was supposed to marry you.”
“Yes.”
“Then the marital trust would weaken your voting control.”
“Yes.”
“Thomas would challenge you.”
Gavin turned.
“What?”
She nodded.
“The marriage was never the final step.”
His face hardened.
“What was?”
“Removing you from the company.”
Evelyn gasped.
Priscilla continued.
“The trust documents gave Ashford Meridian temporary voting rights.”
“And Thomas?”
“He had commitments from three directors.”
Marcus stared.
“That gives them control.”
Priscilla nodded.
“For ninety days.”
“Long enough to approve the Harbor merger.”
“Yes.”
Gavin looked at the clock.
The board meeting had already begun.
He grabbed his jacket.
Priscilla blocked him.
“Wait.”
“Move.”
“If you walk in there angry, Thomas wins.”
Gavin stared at her.
“You’re giving me strategy now?”
“I know how they think.”
“You helped them think.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled.
“That’s why you need me.”
Gavin laughed.
“I don’t need you.”
“No.”
She nodded.
“You don’t.”
Then she placed a flash drive on the table.
“But you need this.”
Gavin looked at it.
“What is it?”
“Original recordings.”
“Of whom?”
“My father.”
“And?”
She hesitated.
“Thomas.”
Gavin picked it up.
“Why do you have them?”
“Insurance.”
“Against your father?”
“Against everyone.”
For the first time, Gavin understood Priscilla completely.
She had grown up in a family where trust was leverage.
Love was negotiation.
Secrets were currency.
So she had secretly recorded the men controlling her life.
“Why give it to me?”
Priscilla looked toward Nora.
Then Taylor.
The little girl was drawing at the kitchen table.
Priscilla’s face changed.
“Because she looked at me last night like she knew I was the bad person.”
Taylor glanced up.
Priscilla continued.
“And for the first time, I couldn’t blame anyone else.”
Gavin said nothing.
She wiped her eyes.
“I did terrible things to your mother.”
Evelyn remained silent.
“I lied to you.”
Gavin remained silent.
“I helped steal from you.”
Still nothing.
Priscilla looked at him.
“I don’t expect forgiveness.”
“Good.”
She flinched.
“But I can still stop them.”
Gavin looked at the flash drive.
“Is it real?”
“Yes.”
“Unedited?”
“Yes.”
“If I find one alteration—”
“You won’t.”
Gavin turned toward the door.
Priscilla called after him.
“Gavin.”
He stopped.
She removed a second ring from her hand.
A small gold signet ring bearing the Ashford family crest.
She placed it on the table.
“My father gave me this when I turned eighteen.”
Gavin looked at it.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Priscilla’s voice was barely audible.
“There’s a microphone inside.”
Everyone stared.
She pressed the crest.
A tiny compartment opened.
“I recorded every conversation I had with him for the last two years.”
Gavin looked at the ring.
Then Priscilla.
And suddenly the woman who had helped construct the trap might also possess the evidence capable of destroying it.
But the board meeting had already begun.
And by the time Gavin reached headquarters—
May you like
Thomas Roberson was standing at the head of the table.
Sitting in Gavin’s chair.
