Crude Intentions

Chapter 14: The Boardroom Coup

The phone in Theo’s hand looked like it might shatter under the force of his grip. The knuckles of his large hand turned a stark, lethal white, and the lines of his face hardened into an expression of raw, unadulterated fury that made his previous anger at Garrett Cole look like child's play.

"Richard," Theo said, his voice dropping into a register so low and resonant it felt like a physical vibration against Charlie’s chest. "You have exactly five seconds to explain why you are standing in a local Texas brokerage interfering with an active corporate acquisition before I file a motion to strip you of your equity."

A cold, clinical chuckle came through the speaker. “The board voted three hours ago, Theodore. An emergency intervention. You’ve been running wild in the mud for twenty-four hours, bleeding hundreds of thousands of dollars an hour, all based on the word of a local landman with an active conflict of interest. We have a signed statement from Apex Energy claiming Ms. Schindler manipulated title data to extort a higher premium from Vance Energy.”

"Apex is a parasite I just blackballed from the state registry," Theo roared, his voice echoing off the glass windshield of the Escalade. "Charlie Schindler is the Head of Land for this region. Every document she notarized is ironclad, and if you touch a single file in that office, I will personally sue every member of that board for breach of fiduciary duty."

“She was an independent contractor who worked for a firm Apex just bought, Theodore. On paper, it looks like corporate espionage. The sheriff's department is already here to secure the premises and take her into custody for questioning. Step down, nephew. You’re compromised.”

The line went completely dead.

Theo slammed the phone onto the dashboard, a string of dark, violent curses ripping from his throat. He turned to Charlie, his chest heaving under his t-shirt, his dark eyes wide with a frantic, protective panic that completely stripped away his corporate billionaire armor.

"Get in the car," Theo commanded, his hands slamming against her waist as he practically lifted her off the gravel and shoved her into the passenger seat of the SUV. He bolted around to the driver's side, threw the vehicle into gear, and spun the tires, sending a massive cloud of dust over the Henderson ridge as they tore back toward Goliad.

Charlie clutched her leather folder to her chest, her mind spinning, but her signature unbothered calm was already fighting its way back to the surface. "Richard is your uncle?"

"He’s Chief Legal Counsel and a minority shareholder," Theo spat, his eyes locked on the road as the Escalade barreled down the highway at a terrifying speed. "He’s been waiting for a slip-up since my father died. He wants the Eagle Ford block for himself so he can split it off into a subsidiary company and force a board buyout."

"He’s using me as the leverage," Charlie said, a cold, sharp realization settling into her stomach. "If he can prove I committed fraud or extorted you, it invalidates the Henderson deeds we just filed, forces a corporate investigation into your management, and gives Apex room to tie the land up in court."

Theo flicked a glance toward her, his face a mask of fierce, absolute determination. He reached across the console, his large, warm hand clamping over hers, squeezing so tightly her fingers numbed.

"They aren't touching you, Charlie," Theo murmured, his voice a low, gravelly promise that sent a shiver straight down her spine. "I don't care who voted on that board. I built this empire, and I will burn it to the ground before I let them use you to get to me."

"I'm a licensed notary and an officer of the county court, Theo," Charlie said, her dry sarcasm returning like a shield. "Your uncle might have a degree from Harvard, but he doesn't know Texas title law. They can't arrest me for collusion when I have a physical, hand-stamped emergency override receipt from the Chief Clerk."

"Richard doesn't care about the truth, Charlie. He cares about the optics. If a local deputy puts handcuffs on you in front of the town, the press release hits the wire in Houston by noon, and my stock drops five percent. That’s all the leverage he needs."

Ten minutes later, the Escalade screeched to a halt in front of Bob’s local brokerage office in the historic heart of Goliad.

The quiet street was completely swarming. Three sleek, black corporate town cars with Houston plates were parked at illegal angles on the gravel. Standing right by the front door were two county sheriff's cruisers, their lights silently spinning, throwing flashes of red and blue against the old brick building.

Bob was standing on the sidewalk, sweating profusely through his shirt, frantically talking to a deputy who was holding a pair of steel handcuffs.

Theo killed the engine. Before he could even open his mouth, Charlie was out of the truck, her leather boots crunching loudly on the gravel as she marched straight toward the wolves.

"Charlie, no!" Theo shouted, leaping out right behind her.

As they crossed the threshold into the office, the cool, air-conditioned air hit them, heavy with the scent of cheap copier toner and immense, choking tension. Standing at the center of the room, surrounded by three high-priced corporate attorneys in identical gray suits, was Richard Vance. He looked exactly like Theo—same sharp jaw, same towering height—but his eyes were cold, calculating, and completely void of the fiery passion that made Theo dangerous.

"Ah, Theodore," Richard said, smoothly stepping forward, his eyes scanning Theo’s mud-stained slacks and clean t-shirt with an expression of pure disgust. "You look like you’ve been rolling in the dirt. I see you brought the local variable with you."

Richard flicked his hand lazily toward the doorway, looking past Theo to the burly deputy who had just entered behind them.

"Deputy," Richard commanded, his slick, Houston voice dripping with corporate arrogance. "That’s her. Charlie Schindler. Secure the abstract folder under her arm and arrest her for unlawful data theft and corporate collusion."

The deputy took a hesitant step forward, his hand reaching for the handcuffs on his belt.

In a blur of sudden, terrifying movement, Theo stepped into the gap. He didn't just stand in front of Charlie—he effectively eclipsed her, his massive six-foot-three frame forming an iron wall between her and the law. He reached out, his large hand clamping violently around the deputy’s wrist, stopping the handcuffs mid-air with a force that made the metal chains rattle.

The entire office froze. The corporate lawyers took a simultaneous step back.

Theo lowered his head, his dark eyes flashing with a wild, savage intensity that made the hair on the back of Charlie’s neck stand straight up. He looked at the deputy, then slowly turned his lethal gaze onto his uncle.

"You put one hand on her," Theo whispered, his voice a low, terrifying growl that shook the glass windows of the office, "and I will personally tear this company apart brick by brick. I don't care about the board, Richard. I don't care about the stock price. If you think you can come into my basin, threaten my Head of Land, and slide a pair of cuffs on the woman I protect... you are going to find out exactly how ruthless I can be."