Chapter 3 - Cedar Meridian
At seven thirty the next morning, Catherine entered Bellmont Holdings through a private underground entrance.
She had slept less than two hours.
Emily had not slept at all.
Catherine had offered to arrange a hotel, but Emily refused to leave until Detective Ortiz confirmed Richard was no longer on the property. Even then, Emily chose a room at her cousin’s apartment in Yonkers rather than anything Catherine could provide.
That decision hurt Catherine more than she expected.
It should have.
Trust had been broken long before the assault.
Catherine entered the twenty-ninth-floor boardroom at eight.
Richard was already seated at the far end.
His black suit was immaculate.
If someone had entered without knowing what happened the previous afternoon, they might have believed he was simply preparing for another quarterly meeting.
Seven directors sat between them.
Evelyn Hart occupied the chairwoman’s seat.
Richard’s attorney sat behind him.
Catherine’s newly retained lawyer, Naomi Brooks, sat behind her.
Evelyn began.
“Yesterday’s events create extraordinary circumstances. This meeting concerns Bellmont Holdings only.”
Richard folded his hands.
“My wife has become unstable.”
Catherine looked at him.
Naomi touched her wrist beneath the table.
Do not react.
Richard continued.
“For months, Catherine has accused senior management of theft without evidence. We now have records showing she personally authorized twelve point four million dollars in transfers from Bellmont Family Foundation accounts.”
A screen illuminated.
Catherine’s signature appeared on six documents.
Each looked real.
Because several were real.
She remembered signing them.
But the destinations had not been visible on the pages Richard gave her.
Naomi leaned forward.
“We dispute the authenticity and completeness of these records.”
Richard smiled.
“Of course you do.”
Evelyn asked, “What is Cedar Meridian?”
Richard looked at Catherine.
“You should ask her.”
Catherine spoke calmly.
“I had never heard that name until yesterday.”
Richard’s expression flickered.
Only briefly.
But Catherine saw it.
“How interesting.”
Evelyn turned to Graham Pike.
The CFO sat three seats away, looking exhausted.
“Mr. Pike?”
Graham cleared his throat.
“Cedar Meridian is a strategic consulting entity.”
“Owned by whom?”
“I don’t have beneficial ownership records with me.”
Richard interrupted.
“Because Catherine handled it personally.”
Catherine stared at Graham.
Two nights earlier, the hidden camera had recorded him discussing Cedar with Richard.
He knew exactly what it was.
And he was lying.
“Graham,” she said, “look at me.”
His eyes stayed on the table.
“Look at me.”
Slowly, he did.
“Tell them where we met Tuesday night.”
Graham swallowed.
Richard said, “This is irrelevant.”
Catherine continued.
“Tell them what you and Richard discussed in my library.”
Graham’s face drained.
The room changed.
Richard recovered quickly.
“I don’t know what she’s talking about.”
Catherine slid a printed still image across the table.
It showed Richard and Graham beneath the chandelier.
Timestamp visible.
Tuesday, 10:14 p.m.
Graham looked at Richard.
Richard’s jaw tightened.
Evelyn took the photograph.
“What is this?”
“Evidence currently being preserved by law enforcement,” Naomi said. “We will not play the recording here.”
Richard stood.
“This meeting is over.”
“No,” Evelyn said.
Everyone looked at her.
“You called the meeting, Richard. Sit down.”
For twenty years, Richard had treated Bellmont as his kingdom.
But Bellmont did not originate with him.
Catherine’s father, Henry Bell, had founded the company forty-two years earlier. Catherine inherited his controlling family trust.
Richard became chief executive because she trusted him.
That distinction suddenly mattered.
Evelyn continued.
“Pending an independent investigation, I propose administrative leave for both Richard and Catherine.”
Richard’s face hardened.
Catherine felt anger rise.
Naomi whispered, “Take it.”
Catherine understood.
If she fought to remain in control while Richard accused her of diverting funds, she would look desperate to obstruct an audit.
“Agreed,” Catherine said.
Richard stared at her.
He had expected resistance.
Evelyn called the vote.
Five directors approved.
Two abstained.
Richard and Catherine were temporarily removed from executive authority.
The empire Richard had ruled for sixteen years was placed in the hands of an independent committee.
After the meeting, Catherine and Naomi entered a conference room.
Catherine slammed the door.
“I just surrendered my company.”
“You protected your credibility.”
“He’s going to destroy everything before they finish investigating.”
“Not if we establish where Cedar Meridian leads.”
Naomi opened her laptop.
“I hired a forensic accountant last night.”
“You did what?”
“You told me twelve million dollars disappeared.”
A video call connected.
A man introduced himself as Jonah Price.
“I’ve been reviewing the documents you sent,” he said.
“What did you find?”
“Cedar Meridian LLC was formed in Delaware fourteen months ago.”
“Owner?”
“Hidden behind a registered agent.”
“Can you trace the bank?”
“I traced one outgoing transaction.”
Catherine leaned closer.
“Where?”
Jonah shared his screen.
A payment of $480,000 had left Cedar Meridian six months earlier.
The recipient was listed as LB Advisory Services.
Naomi frowned.
“Consulting?”
Jonah shook his head.
“Maybe. But LB Advisory dissolved three weeks after receiving the money.”
Catherine stared at the initials.
LB.
Something stirred in her memory.
A woman who had worked at the mansion years earlier.
Laura Benton.
Quiet.
Thirty-something.
Excellent references.
She had resigned suddenly after less than a year.
Richard had told Catherine she stole antique silver.
Catherine had believed him.
Her throat tightened.
“Can you find the owner of LB Advisory?”
Jonah typed.
Then stopped.
His expression changed.
“What?”
“I found her.”
A photograph appeared.
Laura Benton.
Catherine felt the room disappear.
“What does Cedar have to do with her?”
Jonah looked directly into the camera.
“I don’t know yet.”
Another document loaded.
“The $480,000 payment memo says ‘confidential resolution pursuant to private agreement.’”
Naomi slowly sat back.
“Settlement.”
Catherine remembered Richard’s voice from the hidden recording.
If she ever makes trouble, we do what we did before.
May you like
Emily had not been the first woman Richard planned to discredit.
And suddenly Catherine knew exactly who might have been.
