Chapter 81 The Emergency Meeting

Chapter 81 The Emergency Meeting


The Colton Industries boardroom felt like a courtroom. Twelve board members, three lawyers, and a federal prosecutor sat around the table. Harper and Sebastian sat at one end, united but visibly shaken.

"Let's address the elephant in the room," Patricia Chen said. "These emails alleging conspiracy between Sebastian and Harper Colton."

David Rodriguez slid a folder across the table. "We've all seen them. They're damning. Discussions about removing Marcus, manipulating the inheritance, strategic marriage planning,all dated before Eleanor Whitmore's death."

"They're fabricated," Sebastian said firmly. "Every single one."

"Your cyber forensics team confirmed that?" another board member asked.

Patricia Kim spoke up. "We're working on full authentication, but preliminary analysis shows sophisticated forgery. The metadata's been manipulated to show false dates."

"Preliminary isn't definitive," Rodriguez countered. "And that reporter is running the story tomorrow regardless. The damage to Colton Industries will be catastrophic."

Harper felt Sebastian's hand find hers under the table.

"Marcus created these," Sebastian said. "It's his final play. Make us look guilty so his crimes seem justified."

"Or," Marcus's lawyer said from the other end of the table,Harper hadn't even noticed him there,"my client is the victim of an elaborate conspiracy, and these emails prove it."

"Your client tried to burn down my hotel," Harper snapped.

"Allegedly. And perhaps in response to discovering he'd been betrayed by family." The lawyer smiled thinly. "These emails suggest Sebastian and Mrs. Colton have been planning to push Marcus out for years. That changes the narrative significantly."

The prosecutor spoke for the first time. "Mr. Colton, Mrs. Colton
I need you to understand the severity. If these emails are authentic, you could face charges. Conspiracy to commit fraud at minimum."

Harper's stomach dropped. "But they're not authentic…"

"Prove it. Definitively. Because right now, they look real enough to create reasonable doubt about Marcus's guilt."

Sebastian stood abruptly. "This is exactly what he wants. To muddy the waters, make everyone question what's real. But the evidence against Marcus is overwhelming. Surveillance footage, recorded conversations, wire transfers…"

"All of which could be reframed as you two setting him up," the lawyer interrupted. "If you were planning to remove him from the company, framing him for crimes serves that purpose perfectly."

"That's insane," Claire said from the observer section. "Sebastian would never…"

"Your brother married a stranger for business purposes," the lawyer said smoothly. "That's documented fact. Is it really so hard to believe he'd go further?"

Harper watched the board members' faces. Some looked skeptical of the lawyer's argument. Others looked uncertain. A few looked convinced.

They were losing the room.

"We need a recess," Patricia Kim said. "Thirty minutes to regroup."

The board agreed. As everyone filed out, Harper grabbed Sebastian's arm.

"This is bad. Really bad."

"I know." His face was pale. "Marcus planted those emails knowing even if we prove they're fake, the doubt remains. He's destroying us from inside a jail cell."

Claire joined them. "The press is gathering outside. Someone leaked that there's an emergency board meeting. This is going to be everywhere by tonight."

Harper's phone buzzed. Jessie: Are you seeing the news? They're already running with the conspiracy angle.

She showed Sebastian. He swore quietly.

"We need to go nuclear," Harper said. "Give the reporter something bigger. Shift the narrative completely."

"Like what?"

Harper thought fast. "The truth. All of it. Not just the contract marriage,everything. Your father, Marcus's jealousy, the real reason behind the corporate war. We make this about family dysfunction, not conspiracy."

"That means exposing private family history," Claire said carefully.

"I know. But it's the only way to explain why Marcus went to these lengths." Harper looked at Sebastian. "Unless you have a better idea?"

He was quiet for a long moment. Then: "We give them my father's files."

"What files?" Harper asked.

"Dad kept detailed records. Journals about running the company, building the empire. He also documented everything about Marcus, how jealous he was, how unstable, and how Dad deliberately pitted us against each other." Sebastian's voice was hollow. "I found them after he died. Never showed anyone. But they prove Marcus has been obsessed with controlling Colton Industries for decades."

"That's private," Claire protested. "Dad's legacy…"

"Dad's legacy is this mess," Sebastian said harshly. "He created Marcus's obsession by constantly comparing us, by making the company a prize to fight over. If those files explain why Marcus snapped, they save us."

Claire's eyes filled with tears, but she nodded. "Do it."

They called Patricia Kim back in. Showed her samples of their father's journals. Her eyes widened as she read.

"This is explosive. Marcus comes across as deeply troubled even twenty years ago."

"Can we use it?" Harper asked.

"In court, definitely. But are you sure you want this public? Your father's private thoughts about his sons, about…" She stopped. "There's material here about you too, Sebastian. Not flattering material."

"I know what he thought of me," Sebastian said quietly. "That I was weak, too emotional, would never be ruthless enough to run the company properly. Let people read it. It explains everything."

The prosecutor returned with the board. Sebastian stood.

"I'm releasing my father's personal files to investigators and, with legal clearance, to the press. They document Marcus's instability and obsession with the company going back decades. They'll prove this conspiracy theory is exactly what it looks like,a desperate man's last attempt to avoid consequences."

"That's a bold move," Rodriguez said.

"It's the truth." Sebastian looked around the table. "Marcus Colton is guilty. The evidence is overwhelming. These forged emails are his final manipulation. Don't let him win by creating doubt."

The board members exchanged glances.

"We need to vote," Patricia Chen said. "All in favor of continuing to support Sebastian's leadership pending full investigation?"

Harper held her breath.

Eight hands rose. Four abstained.

Eight to four. They'd won. Barely.

"Motion carries," Chen said. "But Sebastian, if those emails prove authentic, this vote is void."

"They won't. I promise you."

As they left the building, reporters swarmed. Sebastian pulled Harper close, shielding her from cameras.

"Mr. Colton! Is it true you conspired with your wife against your uncle?"

"Did you forge evidence against Marcus Colton?"

"Is the marriage real or part of the scheme?"

Sebastian stopped at the top of the steps. Harper felt him tense, then steady.

"My wife and I have been transparent from the beginning. Marcus Colton committed crimes. We reported them. That's not conspiracy, that's justice. The truth will come out. And when it does, you'll see Marcus for what he is: a man who couldn't accept that the company moved on without him."

They pushed through to the car. Once inside, Sebastian exhaled shakily.

"That was…"

"Brutal," Harper finished. "But you did good."

Her phone rang. Patricia Kim.

"The forensics team found something. The forged emails? They were created on a computer registered to Marcus's lawyer."

Harper's eyes widened. "His own lawyer helped forge evidence?"

"Looks that way. We're reporting it to the bar association and the prosecutor. This changes everything."

Harper hung up and told Sebastian. For the first time all day, he smiled.

"We've got him. Really got him."

But as they drove home, Harper couldn't shake the feeling that Marcus still had one card left to play.

And this time, it would be personal.