Behind His Empire

Chapter 11: A Seat at His Table

By ten the next morning, Lena Hart had already reviewed three folders and half a dozen suspicious transactions.

She was beginning to understand one thing about Blackwood International.

Nothing was ever as simple as it appeared.

A knock sounded on her door.

Before she could answer, Rebecca stepped inside.

"Mr. Blackwood wants you."

Lena looked up from her computer.

"Again?"

Rebecca smiled faintly.

"He said immediately."

"Did he say why?"

"No."

"Of course."

Lena saved her work and followed Rebecca toward the executive floor.

As soon as they entered Alexander's office, Lena noticed something different.

His usual quiet workspace was filled with documents.

Several executives were already seated around the long conference table.

Lena stopped.

"What's going on?"

Alexander looked up.

"You're joining us."

She stared at him.

"I'm sorry?"

"Sit."

She glanced at Rebecca.

Rebecca gave her an apologetic shrug and left.

Lena walked toward the empty chair beside Alexander.

"This is a board meeting."

"An executive meeting."

"Same difference."

"Not quite."

She sat.

Across the table, several senior executives watched her with obvious curiosity.

One of them, a gray-haired man in an expensive navy suit, leaned back.

"Alexander, are we starting?"

"We are."

His attention shifted to Lena.

"This is Lena Hart. She's leading the financial investigation."

A murmur moved through the room.

Lena noticed several uncomfortable expressions.

One man looked away immediately.

Another exchanged a glance with the woman beside him.

Alexander noticed too.

"Continue," he said.

The chief financial officer opened a presentation.

"We're reviewing the proposed acquisition of Sterling Properties."

A series of figures appeared on the screen.

Revenue.

Assets.

Debt.

Projected returns.

Lena listened carefully.

The numbers looked impressive.

Almost too impressive.

The CFO continued explaining the projected profit margins.

Lena raised her hand.

The room went silent.

Alexander looked at her.

"Yes?"

"That revenue figure."

The CFO frowned.

"What about it?"

"It doesn't match the supporting report."

He looked at the screen.

"It does."

"No."

Lena reached for a document.

"The projected revenue is based on twelve properties being fully operational by the end of the fiscal year."

"Correct."

"According to the property report, three of those properties haven't received final approval."

The CFO hesitated.

"They're expected to."

"Expected isn't the same as approved."

One of the executives sighed.

"We're discussing projections."

"And projections should still be based on accurate assumptions."

The room became quiet.

Alexander leaned back.

"She's right."

The CFO looked uncomfortable.

"We can adjust the figures."

"You will," Alexander said.

Lena glanced at him.

He wasn't defending her.

He was backing the facts.

The meeting continued.

For the next forty minutes, Lena challenged several figures and identified two inconsistencies in the acquisition proposal.

Each time, Alexander listened.

He never interrupted her.

He never told her to stay quiet.

By the end of the meeting, the original proposal had been sent back for review.

The executives gathered their documents.

The gray-haired man approached Alexander.

"May I speak with you privately?"

Alexander nodded.

Lena began gathering her papers.

The man glanced at her.

"This investigation is confidential, isn't it?"

"Extremely."

"Then perhaps outsiders shouldn't be sitting in executive meetings."

Lena looked up.

Alexander's expression hardened.

"She's not an outsider."

The man paused.

"She's been here less than two weeks."

"Her position isn't determined by how long she's been here."

The executive looked at Lena again.

Then at Alexander.

"I understand."

He walked away.

Lena waited until the room emptied.

"You didn't have to do that."

Alexander remained standing at the head of the table.

"Do what?"

"Defend my position."

"I wasn't defending you."

She raised an eyebrow.

"I was defending my decision."

"Fair enough."

She gathered her documents.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"I wanted you to see how decisions are made."

"That's not the only reason."

Alexander looked at her.

"No."

Lena waited.

"I wanted the people in this room to know you're working directly with me."

Her expression tightened.

"Why?"

"Because I need them to understand that interfering with your investigation means interfering with me."

"That sounds like you're making me a target."

"You already are."

She couldn't argue with that.

Lena looked around the empty conference room.

"What was that man's problem with me?"

"Richard Cole."

"Who is he?"

"Chief Operating Officer."

"Was he involved in my father's case?"

Alexander's expression changed.

"I don't know."

"You hesitated."

"I was thinking."

"About?"

"Whether telling you would affect your judgment."

Lena folded her arms.

"You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Trying to decide what I can handle."

Alexander stared at her.

Then he walked toward the window.

"Richard was one of the executives who supported the investigation into your father."

Lena's stomach tightened.

"Did he accuse him?"

"Not directly."

"But he supported it."

"Yes."

"Does he know I'm investigating the same records?"

"Now he does."

Lena exhaled slowly.

"Wonderful."

Alexander turned.

"There's something else."

She looked at him.

"Your father attended a meeting in this room twelve years ago."

Lena glanced around.

"This room?"

"Yes."

"About what?"

"Financial irregularities."

Her pulse quickened.

"Was Richard there?"

Alexander nodded.

"So was my father?"

"Yes."

Lena looked at the empty chairs.

For a moment, she could almost imagine them sitting there.

Daniel Hart.

Richard Cole.

Alexander's father.

And perhaps others.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Because I didn't know if it mattered."

"And now?"

"Now I think it does."

Lena looked at him.

"What happened during that meeting?"

Alexander's eyes darkened.

"Your father accused someone of stealing from Blackwood."

"Who?"

Before Alexander could answer, the conference room door opened.

Richard Cole stood there.

His face was unreadable.

"Alexander."

Alexander turned.

"What?"

Richard's eyes moved to Lena.

"I forgot something."

He walked toward the table and picked up a folder.

Then he looked directly at Lena.

"You look remarkably like your father."

Lena's stomach tightened.

Richard smiled faintly.

"Let's hope you don't make the same mistakes he did."

He walked out.

The door closed.

Silence filled the room.

Lena slowly turned toward Alexander.

"What did he mean?"

Alexander's expression had become cold.

"I don't know."

She stared at him.

"You do."

Alexander looked toward the closed door.

For once, he didn't deny it.

"I know Richard was in that meeting."

"And?"

"He was the last person seen arguing with your father that night."

Lena's breath caught.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Alexander met her eyes.

"Because I wasn't ready to accuse a man without proof."

Lena tightened her grip on the folder.

"Then let's find the proof."

Alexander nodded.

And for the first time, Lena realized that her seat at his table hadn't been an invitation.

It had been a declaration.

Everyone in Blackwood International now knew whose side she was on.

And someone was bound to make her regret taking that seat.

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End of Chapter 11