CHAPTER 5: The Financial Noose
CHAPTER 5: The Financial Noose
Eleanor’s threat wasn't empty. The next morning, Adrian found his corporate credit cards declined. His access to the primary family accounts was frozen. As the CEO of Whitmore Enterprises, he technically ran the company, but Eleanor still held the majority voting shares.
"She’s trying to starve us out," Adrian said, pacing the floor of the guest cottage. He looked exhausted, the weight of defying his mother taking a toll. "Isabella, I don't care about the money, but she’s threatening to tank the company's upcoming public merger just to prove she rules us."
Isabella walked over and placed a calming hand on his chest. "Let her try. She thinks her wealth is an impenetrable fortress. She doesn't know that a fortress built on lies has a weak foundation."
Isabella reached into her drawer and pulled out a manila folder. "When I was managing the estate's charity accounts last year, I noticed discrepancies. Massive ones. Eleanor hasn't just been using the money for high society galas. She’s been routing funds into offshore accounts to hide the company's true debts."
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Adrian gasped. "Embezzlement? From her own family trust?"
"Worse," Isabella replied, her eyes flashing. "She used Noah’s future trust fund as collateral for her bad investments. That 'broken vase' incident wasn't just about discipline, Adrian. She wanted to declare Noah 'unfit' or 'rebellious' in the family records to legally revoke his trust fund before the auditors found out the money was already gone."
