Chapter 4 - The Empty Chair
The emergency board meeting began at 10:00 a.m.
Vincent’s chair was empty.
Marcus Vane stood at the head of the table.
Twelve directors watched him.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Marcus began, “none of us wanted this day.”
One director interrupted.
“Has Vincent agreed?”
Marcus lowered his eyes solemnly.
“Vincent is no longer capable of making decisions regarding the company.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Marcus’s smile disappeared.
“The doctors are not optimistic.”
Another director spoke.
“So we're voting while he's still alive?”
“We are protecting Blackwood Maritime.”
Marcus opened his portfolio.
“The transfer gives me permanent executive authority should Vincent become medically incapacitated.”
A director frowned.
“Permanent?”
Marcus nodded.
“We cannot operate indefinitely without leadership.”
He pushed the documents across the table.
“Shall we begin?”
The conference-room doors opened.
Everyone turned.
Daniel Reeves entered first.
Then Vincent Blackwood rolled into the room.
The silence was immediate.
Marcus’s face drained of color.
“Vincent.”
Vincent looked around the table.
“My apologies for being late.”
Nobody spoke.
Marcus recovered first.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“Why?”
“Your health.”
Vincent nodded.
“Yes. You've been extremely concerned about my health.”
Marcus stiffened.
Vincent stopped at his usual place.
“My health is improving.”
Something flashed across Marcus’s face.
Shock.
Vincent saw it.
He placed a laboratory report on the table.
“So are my investigative skills.”
Marcus stared at it.
“What is this?”
“Read it.”
“I don't have time for games.”
Vincent looked around the room.
“Someone has been poisoning me.”
The directors erupted.
Marcus stepped backward.
“This is insane.”
“Is it?”
“You're confused.”
“No.”
Vincent’s voice suddenly sounded stronger than it had in months.
“I was confused when you were poisoning me.”
Marcus looked toward the door.
Two detectives entered.
His eyes widened.
Vincent continued.
“A pesticide compound was discovered inside my humidifier. The same compound contaminated my medication.”
Marcus shook his head.
“That proves nothing.”
“You hired the nurse.”
“For your care.”
“You paid her through a shell corporation.”
Marcus stopped.
Daniel stepped forward.
“We have the transactions.”
Marcus turned toward Vincent.
“You think you can accuse me because of some laboratory report?”
“No.”
Vincent smiled.
“That's why I brought a witness.”
Footsteps sounded behind them.
Vanessa entered.
Marcus stared at her.
“You…”
Vanessa’s voice trembled.
“I told them everything.”
“You stupid—”
“Careful,” Vincent interrupted.
The detectives moved closer.
Vanessa looked at the board.
“Marcus convinced me to steal Vincent’s vault key. He told me there were documents he needed.”
Marcus pointed at her.
“She’s a thief!”
“Yes,” Vanessa said. “And that's why I ran.”
She looked directly at Vincent.
“I discovered what he was doing after I left. He was paying the nurse. He wanted Vincent sick enough that everyone would accept his death as natural.”
Marcus rushed toward the side door.
Daniel stepped in front of him.
“Going somewhere?”
“Move.”
“No.”
Marcus looked around the boardroom.
The directors who had once treated him as Vincent’s successor now stared at him like a stranger.
Vincent wheeled closer.
“Twenty-six years, Marcus.”
Marcus looked at him.
“We built this company together.”
“I built it too!”
“And that wasn't enough?”
“I spent my life standing behind you!”
“There it is.”
Vincent’s expression hardened.
“You didn't want the company.”
Marcus said nothing.
“You wanted my chair.”
A detective took Marcus by the arm.
He resisted.
“You think this is over?”
Vincent looked at the empty executive chair.
Then back at his oldest friend.
“For you?”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
Marcus Vane was arrested before sunset.
Three executives followed within the week.
The private nurse was arrested at the airport while attempting to leave the country.
The attempted takeover was over.
May you like
But Vincent Blackwood still couldn't walk.
And the six-year-old boy who had saved his life had one more promise to keep.
