Page 102 of Isabela

“I think the power of this company is going to your head,” I say. “Cohen Security and Communications is my inheritance, and there are many reasons why I haven’t been able to lead it. For example, see the pretty kaleidoscope of colors on my face? I was recently kidnapped.”

“What?” Mr. Gardner blinks at me. “You expect us to believe you? Maybe you have a really abusive boyfriend.”

“The fuck you do,” Gael grunts, making me smirk.

“I assure you, my boyfriend would never touch me in any matter other than the utmost respect. Now that I’m here, I do have other matters to attend to after this,” I say smugly. I need to get into my uncle’s computer, and Madison is on call for the moment I need her to pull information from it.

“Yes, as long as you’re here now, please continue with your presentation,” a board member says. I think the man with the thick black hair and mustache speaking is one of the people who called me to warn me about Gardner, but I’m so nervous now that I can’t remember his name.

Nodding, I see there isn’t a computer on the table and roll my eyes internally. The Chair of the Board never expected me to get this far today. Thankfully, I brought my laptop with me as well.

Pulling it out, I set up the presentation so that it pops up on the screen in front of me. I have taught in front of enough students, that I fall into the role of educator easily.

“Gentlemen, I don’t plan to take up too much of your time today, but I am going to show you how my uncle may have killed my parents and did steal my inheritance,” I say, my eyes skimming over them. “I also do balance the books for the company, and will be showing you how he was stealing from the company and laundering money.”

“Was? Are you saying that he has been brought into custody?” Gardner asks.

“No, he’s dead,” I say nonchalantly. It’s the story Gael and I planned out, and the lie rolls off smoothly. “The police are keeping it quiet, but I have a press conference set up for later today. How the group looks by the end of it is up to you. Shall we continue?”

The next hour flies by, and then I have to do the hard part. Fuck.

“I know this is all very hard to swallow, even though you’ve seen photos,” I say. Opening the tab on my computer, I force myself to take a breath as I open the voice recording of the night my uncle beat me. “I understand you need solid proof. October during the Cohen Literary Foundation’s gala, my uncle beat me until I passed out in front of his buddy, Mayor Charles Markship. Here is the video I recorded from inside of my bag while he hurt me. I’m going to play it, but I will step out, because I’ve lived through this. I can’t listen to it again.”

Sadly, I look around the board who is supposed to have the best interests of my company at heart. Some of them sneer at me, while others look shocked.

“You’re going to hear the mayor and my uncle calmly talking about buying and selling me, and that’s what happened almost two weeks ago. Mayor Markship kidnapped me from Hoyt University to use in ways his own wife won’t allow,” I rasp.

“The night of the gala for my parents’ foundation, women were bought and sold in a silent auction. This is what it has been reduced to: a front for the sex trade. You can choose to stick your heads in the sand, but I am going public with this. My company is not for sale.”

“If your uncle is dead, then who is overseeing your trust and the company?” Mr. Gardner asks snidely. “Shouldn’t it be your board of directors?”

“No, we are going to push for the original will to be reinstated,” Theo says in my ear. “Harrison will be flying in, in the next five minutes and will be coming straight to Cohen Securities. He has a copy of the original will, and where he signed, saying that he would be more than happy to take you. Your parents told him that if anything happened to them that he would become your legal guardian, but when your uncle took over, he thought it may be best to leave it. Be prepared for my son to come in hot, especially after what his daughter pulled this week.”

God, my life could have been so different. Keeping my face completely void of emotions, I shake my head.

“My uncle rewrote my parents’ will to state that he would regain control while I grew up. The original version has been found in my uncle’s home,” I say clearly. I want to scream at how angry I am, but I stay true to the course.

“Harrison Travers is on his way here, the man my parents were best friends with, and who should have been my guardian.”

“Travers,” Miles Gardner pales as he mutters. “I’m aware they were friends, but I didn’t know all of this. He’s coming here?”

“Yes,” I say.

“Name drop me if you must, Isabela,” Theodore mutters. “I think this man’s head may explode if you do.”

My lips twitch as I nod. “Yes, I have also been having lunch with his father, Theodore Travers lately. Lovely man. I really don’t think he’ll take very kindly to you shitting all over me. Now, be good little boys and listen to this recording,” I say, hitting the button.

“Laying it on a bit thick, but I approve,” Theodore chuckles as I turn and walk out as the recording begins. Shuddering as the door closes behind my back at my first scream, I close my eyes.

“Are you okay?” Mr. Bartow asks.

“Yeah, the next half hour is going to be a little rough,” I tell him, opening my eyes to glance over. I shortened the recording for this meeting, though the original is still uploaded to the cloud.

When I hear the first sounds of retching ten minutes later, I sigh.

“Well, if they don’t believe me after that, then they can’t be swayed,” I murmur. “They’ll be busy for a bit. I think I should talk to a few of the employees while they’re occupied.”

“Yeah?” Mr. Bartow asks.

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