Page 154 of Collateral Damage
“That’s illegal,” Vale hisses.
Cooper chuckles. “You want to talk to me about illegal? Everything you’ve done and all the shit you’ve pulled on these people?” He surveys the group. “Things I’m sure you all would hate to be made public. What would the investors think? Let alone your friends and families.”
Murmurs of outrage ripple through the room, and I lock eyes with Mom, who offers a playful wink. She’s eating this up.
Cooper yells over the noise, and the group silences. “God, you people really need to learn active listening.”
“Cooper,” his father growls. “Be careful.”
“I’m done being careful,” he replies. “I gave you a chance to change directions, and you didn’t, so here we are.”
“What do you want from us?” the chairwoman asks.
“Either you release Lance Vale from his position at Laurence International and never allow him to return, or all your dirty little secrets and bribes with the man will be made available to everyone else in this room. Who knows what could leak.” He pauses for dramatic effect, and I stare at him in awe. “The choice is yours.”
Sixty-Seven
Sybil
Present - Age 27
Less than a minute after Cooper’s ultimatum, the board unanimously votes to remove Lance.
“Do this, andI’llbe the one to share all your secrets,” Lance fumes.
Cooper lets out a sardonic laugh. “You’re admitting to blackmail now? Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty on you, too. Don’t think my investigators didn’t do athoroughjob. I’m sure your financial crimes alone would be enough to send you to prison. How about we all agree to keep our mouths shut, huh?”
Vale’s lips press together, his face turning purple. When security is called, nobody comes to his defense. He leaves on his own accord, a few obscenities thrown our way at the last second.
For the first time today, I laugh.
The meeting disperses, and Cooper asks me, my mom, and Conrad to stay behind. My emotions are spinning in every direction, racing through me one after the next. I’m shocked that this happened, elated Lance is gone, thrilled I still have a place atLaurence, but hurt that Cooper and his father took me down in the first place.
“There’s more,” Coop says with a little frown. “I think we should sit.”
I assumed the exchange of ownership equity is what Cooper wanted to talk about, but his voice is thick with regret, and my stomach drops. We all take a seat at the far corner of the conference table, eyes on Cooper.
“Vale was willing to do anything to get what he wanted. He blackmailed, bribed, and fabricated lies to claw his way to the top. He had his sights set high for a long time. I’m sure he was elated when Gregory passed away.”
Mom looks stricken. “Gregory trusted him.”
Cooper shakes his head. “I’m not sure he did.”
“What do you mean?”
“It wasn’t just some of the people in this room Vale blackmailed. I have proof he did it to your husband as well.”
Conrad and my mother exchange a glance, then Conrad turns on his son with a scowl. “What did Vale do?”
Cooper sighs. “Lance found out about Arden and used the information for his benefit.”
“How?” Despite her rigid posture and stoic face, Mom sounds absolutely wrecked.
“I’ll email you the proof, and it takes a bit of logic to put it all together, but it’s pretty clear Vale wanted to weaken the partnership between King and Laurence. What better way than to reveal a deep, dark secret?”
“Like an affair,” I whisper, my stomach immediately souring.
Cooper nods. “Your father was willing to agree to some pretty awful things in order to keep the truth about Arden’s paternity a secret.”
