Chapter 9: ## Chapter 9: The Emergency Meeting
The Emergency Meeting
My father immediately called his driver.
"Have the carMy father immediately called his driver.
"Have the car brought to the executive entrance. We're going to headquarters.""
Thomas shook his head.
"Richard, I don't recommend moving Danielle until we understand the threat.""
My brought to the executive entrance. We're going to headquarters.""
Thomas shook his head.
"Richard, I don't recommend moving Danielle until we understand the threat.""
My father looked at him.
"Someone has forged her signature, attempted to steal her mother's records, and circulated a document claiming she surrendered her rights. How much more understanding do we need?""
Thomas didn't argue.
James closed his laptop.
"I'll arrange for the independent father looked at him.
"Someone has forged her signature, attempted to steal her mother's records, and circulated a document claiming she surrendered her rights. How much more understanding do we need?""
Thomas didn't argue.
James closed his laptop.
"I'll arrange for the independent trustees to join us.""
Peter picked up the blue book.
"I'm coming too.""
My father nodded.
"Good.""
Then he turned toward me.
"Danielle, I need you to make one decision.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
"If you want to trustees to join us.""
Peter picked up the blue book.
"I'm coming too.""
My father nodded.
"Good.""
Then he turned toward me.
"Danielle, I need you to make one decision.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
"If you want to leave this entire matter behind, I will arrange everything. You and Amara can go home. I'll handle the investigation.""
I looked at the letter in my hands.
Then at the blue book.
Then at the photograph of my mother.
"I don't want leave this entire matter behind, I will arrange everything. You and Amara can go home. I'll handle the investigation.""
I looked at the letter in my hands.
Then at the blue book.
Then at the photograph of my mother.
"I don't want to leave.""
He studied my face.
"Are you sure?""
I nodded.
"My mother built something to protect people. Someone is trying to destroy to leave.""
He studied my face.
"Are you sure?""
I nodded.
"My mother built something to protect people. Someone is trying to destroy it. And they used my name to do it.""
I looked down at Amara.
"I don't want it. And they used my name to do it.""
I looked down at Amara.
"I don't want her growing up thinking that people with her growing up thinking that people with power can do whatever they want.""
My father gently touched my shoulder.
"Then we finish this power can do whatever they want.""
My father gently touched my shoulder.
"Then we finish this.""
Before we left, Thomas approached me.
"Ms. Brooks, there's something I want you to know.""
I looked up.
"Yes?""
"The airline's board is not the same as the people who work here. Most employees have no idea this is.""
Before we left, Thomas approached me.
"Ms. Brooks, there's something I want you to know.""
I looked up.
"Yes?""
"The airline's board is not the same as the people who work here. Most employees have no idea this is happening. Some have spent years trying to improve the passenger experience.""
I nodded.
"I understand.""
"I don't want you to think everyone in this company is responsible for what happened.""
I looked toward Emily.
She was standing beside the reception desk, speaking with an happening. Some have spent years trying to improve the passenger experience.""
I nodded.
"I understand.""
"I don't want you to think everyone in this company is responsible for what happened.""
I looked toward Emily.
She was standing beside the reception desk, speaking with an investigator.
"I know.""
Then I added, "But the people who knew and stayed silent need to explain why.""
Thomas nodded.
"Agreed.""
We were preparing to leave when Emily suddenly approached.
"Ms. Brooks?""
I turned.
She held investigator.
"I know.""
Then I added, "But the people who knew and stayed silent need to explain why.""
Thomas nodded.
"Agreed.""
We were preparing to leave when Emily suddenly approached.
"Ms. Brooks?""
I turned.
She held out a folded piece of paper.
"I found something in the lounge office.""
"What is it?""
"A printed copy of a message Victoria received last week.""
I looked toward Victoria.
She was still under security supervision.
"Why didn't you show this earlier?""
Emily out a folded piece of paper.
"I found something in the lounge office.""
"What is it?""
"A printed copy of a message Victoria received last week.""
I looked toward Victoria.
She was still under security supervision.
"Why didn't you show this earlier?""
Emily lowered her voice.
"Because I was afraid.""
I unfolded the paper.
It contained a message from an unknown executive account.
The Brooks family matter must be resolved before the next board meeting. The beneficiary cannot be allowed to activate the original oversight provisions.
My father lowered her voice.
"Because I was afraid.""
I unfolded the paper.
It contained a message from an unknown executive account.
The Brooks family matter must be resolved before the next board meeting. The beneficiary cannot be allowed to activate the original oversight provisions.
My father read over my shoulder.
His expression hardened.
At the bottom was a reference number.
317.
The same number attached to the key.
James took the paper.
"That's the archive reference.""
Thomas looked at him.
"Then whatever is in that archive is connected read over my shoulder.
His expression hardened.
At the bottom was a reference number.
317.
The same number attached to the key.
James took the paper.
"That's the archive reference.""
Thomas looked at him.
"Then whatever is in that archive is connected to the attempted transfer.""
My father turned toward Emily.
"Thank you.""
She nodded.
Then she looked at me.
"I'm sorry I didn't help you sooner.""
I reached for her hand.
"You helped when it mattered.""
Her eyes filled.
As we walked toward the to the attempted transfer.""
My father turned toward Emily.
"Thank you.""
She nodded.
Then she looked at me.
"I'm sorry I didn't help you sooner.""
I reached for her hand.
"You helped when it mattered.""
Her eyes filled.
As we walked toward the private terminal, I looked back at the lounge.
The same marble floor.
The same leather chairs.
The same enormous windows.
But the atmosphere had changed completely.
Victoria was no longer standing proudly in the middle of the room.
She was private terminal, I looked back at the lounge.
The same marble floor.
The same leather chairs.
The same enormous windows.
But the atmosphere had changed completely.
Victoria was no longer standing proudly in the middle of the room.
She was sitting beside a security officer, her pink jacket wrinkled and her face sitting beside a security officer, her pink jacket wrinkled and her face pale.
The passengers who had laughed earlier were now quietly watching.
One man lowered his phone as I passed.
"Ma'am," he said.
I stopped pale.
The passengers who had laughed earlier were now quietly watching.
One man lowered his phone as I passed.
"Ma'am," he said.
I stopped.
He looked embarrassed.
"I laughed when you fell.""
I didn't answer.
He looked embarrassed.
"I laughed when you fell.""
I didn't answer.
"I'm sorry.""
I studied him for a moment.
.
"I'm sorry.""
I studied him for a moment.
Then I said something my mother used toThen I said something my mother used to tell me.
"Next time, help the person on the floor.""
tell me.
"Next time, help the person on the floor.""
He nodded.
I continued walking.
At the private terminal, my father helped me into the car.
AmaraHe nodded.
I continued walking.
At the private terminal, my father helped me into the car.
Amara was sleeping peacefully.
James sat opposite us, reading through the was sleeping peacefully.
James sat opposite us, reading through the newly recovered documents.
Thomas was speaking with the board's legal department.
Peter held the blue book newly recovered documents.
Thomas was speaking with the board's legal department.
Peter held the blue book carefully on his lap.
I looked out the window as the airport buildings passed.
"Dad?""
He turned.
carefully on his lap.
I looked out the window as the airport buildings passed.
"Dad?""
He turned.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Did Mom know this could happen?""
He was quiet"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Did Mom know this could happen?""
He was quiet for several seconds.
"She knew people might eventually try to change what for several seconds.
"She knew people might eventually try to change what she created.""
"Then why didn't she stop them?""
"She built safeguards. She believed the she created.""
"Then why didn't she stop them?""
"She built safeguards. She believed the people who came after her would respect them.""
He looked down.
"She was people who came after her would respect them.""
He looked down.
"She was optimistic.""
I smiled sadly.
"She was always optimistic.""
My father nodded optimistic.""
I smiled sadly.
"She was always optimistic.""
My father nodded.
"She also believed that doing the right thing was worth the trouble it caused.
"She also believed that doing the right thing was worth the trouble it caused.""
I looked at Amara.
"Sounds familiar.""
.""
I looked at Amara.
"Sounds familiar.""
He laughed softly.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"Richard Brooks.""
He laughed softly.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"Richard Brooks.""
A woman's voice came through.
"Richard, it's Elaine.""
A woman's voice came through.
"Richard, it's Elaine.""
My father sat straighter.
"Elaine. Where are you?""
My father sat straighter.
"Elaine. Where are you?""
"At headquarters.""
"Are you safe?""
There was a pause.
"I think so"At headquarters.""
"Are you safe?""
There was a pause.
"I think so.""
"Did you sign the resolution?""
"No.""
My father closed his.""
"Did you sign the resolution?""
"No.""
My father closed his eyes.
"I know.""
Elaine's voice trembled.
"Richard, you eyes.
"I know.""
Elaine's voice trembled.
"Richard, you need to understand something. They aren't trying to need to understand something. They aren't trying to steal the trust because of its money.""
"Then steal the trust because of its money.""
"Then why?""
"Because the why?""
"Because the trust has something nobody else has.""
"What trust has something nobody else has.""
"What?""
"The original board recordings.""
My?""
"The original board recordings.""
My father frowned.
"What recordings?""
Elaine lowered her voice.
"Your wife recorded the original governance discussions. She wanted proof of every agreement made when the airline was established.""
father frowned.
"What recordings?""
Elaine lowered her voice.
"Your wife recorded the original governance discussions. She wanted proof of every agreement made when the airline was established.""
Peter leaned forward.
My father glanced at him.
Elaine continued.
"Those recordings were sealed in archive 317. If someone opensPeter leaned forward.
My father glanced at him.
Elaine continued.
"Those recordings were sealed in archive 317. If someone opens them, the entire board will hear what happened when the trust was created them, the entire board will hear what happened when the trust was created.""
My father looked at James.
James had stopped typing.""
My father looked at James.
James had stopped typing.
"What happened?"" my father.
"What happened?"" my father asked.
Elaine whispered:
"Your wife discovered that asked.
Elaine whispered:
"Your wife discovered that someone was already diverting money from the passenger someone was already diverting money from the passenger-welfare fund twelve years ago.""
My-welfare fund twelve years ago.""
My father's face changed.
"Who?""
Ela father's face changed.
"Who?""
Elaine hesitated.
Then she saidine hesitated.
Then she said:
"Richard, it was someone you trusted.""
:
"Richard, it was someone you trusted.""
The call suddenly crackled.
The call suddenly crackled.
A man's voice interrupted in the background.
"Mrs. PorterA man's voice interrupted in the background.
"Mrs. Porter, you need to put that phone down, you need to put that phone down.""
Elaine gas.""
Elaine gasped.
The line went dead.
My father immediately called back.
No answerped.
The line went dead.
My father immediately called back.
No answer.
Thomas turned around.
"What happened?""
My father looked at him.
.
Thomas turned around.
"What happened?""
My father looked at him.
"Elaine's in danger.""
James checked his laptop.
"There's another issue"Elaine's in danger.""
James checked his laptop.
"There's another issue.""
He turned the screen toward us.
The emergency board meeting had been moved forward.
It was scheduled to begin in fifteen minutes.
And the agenda contained only one item.
**FINAL APPRO.""
He turned the screen toward us.
The emergency board meeting had been moved forward.
It was scheduled to begin in fifteen minutes.
May you like
And the agenda contained only one item.
**FINAL APPRO