Chapter 6 - Claire’s Plan
Claire wanted Michael removed as chief executive.
Not physically removed.
Not harmed.
She believed Michael had become disengaged after Sarah’s death.
Financial records partly supported.
Michael delegated heavily.
Missed board meetings.
Signed reports without reading.
Allowed Ryan broad authority.
Claire believed Ryan was effectively running company already.
If Michael signed what?
Not house deed.
A governance proxy.
Michael had been scheduled Monday to sign annual voting proxy authorizing Ryan to vote Michael’s shares at upcoming restructuring meeting.
Routine.
Michael had signed similar proxies before.
Claire wanted Ryan to use proxy to support proposal making Ryan CEO and moving Michael to nonexecutive chair.
Ryan refused.
Recording:
CLAIRE:
“You’re already doing his job.”
RYAN:
“He hasn’t agreed to leave it.”
CLAIRE:
“He doesn’t even know what he signs anymore.”
That sentence hurt because partly true.
Michael had become passive.
But exploiting passivity would still be wrong.
Then Claire:
“Once proxy is signed, board votes. After that he can stay home with the kids.”
Ryan:
“No.”
Clear.
Ryan hid vendor conflicts.
But he was not conspiring to steal Michael’s company.
He had refused Claire’s proposed governance move.
Another payoff.
Then why not tell Michael Claire was pushing?
“Because I thought she was venting,” Ryan said.
“She prepared board numbers.”
“I found that later.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Then?”
“I told her stop.”
Recording supported.
Michael asked:
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Ryan laughed bitterly.
“Because telling you would mean explaining vendor payments.”
There.
One secret protected another.
Then Dana reviewed board proposal.
Claire had no voting authority.
She could not remove Michael herself.
Ryan’s proxy would not guarantee outcome.
Independent directors controlled enough votes.
No magical takeover.
But Claire had prepared presentation showing Michael’s absenteeism.
Some true.
She intended pressure Ryan.
Her motive:
if Ryan became CEO, their financial position stabilized and vendor scrutiny less likely.
Not empire theft.
Self-preservation and status.
Then Michael faced uncomfortable truth.
Was he still fit to lead?
He had spent three years using grief as reason not to engage.
Ryan covered.
Employees adapted.
Michael asked board for independent leadership review.
He did not assume being victim made him best CEO.
Good.
Then Lucas overheard adults mention Mom’s recorder.
“Did Mom know Aunt Claire was bad?”
Michael corrected.
“Your mom worried about choices Aunt Claire made.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
Lucas frowned.
Michael continued:
“People aren’t one thing.”
Lucas pointed toward kennel.
“She put me in there.”
“Yes. That was very wrong.”
“Uncle Ryan helped.”
“Yes.”
“Did he love me?”
Michael paused.
“I believe he does.”
“Then why?”
“I don’t know yet.”
That answer respected child.
Then Dana found something unexpected.
The unsupported Claire invoices totaled $91,700.
But Bennett Home Services had received an anonymous reimbursement three weeks earlier:
$90,000.
Sender:
R.B. Holdings.
Ryan Bennett.
He had begun paying company back before recorder surfaced.
Why?
Ryan said Sarah’s notebook.
“What?”
“I found a photocopy of Page 47 last month.”
Where?
Claire’s desk.
Claire had found Sarah’s notebook before Michael.
But if so—
why was notebook still hidden?
Ryan said Claire had copied selected pages years ago.
Which pages?
Ryan produced one.
Page 52.
May you like
Michael’s notebook ended at Page 51.
A page had been removed.
