"I'll call the trustees."
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because I want to speak to Leonard first."
Sofia looked at her.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"That may be difficult."
"I know."
Eleanor returned the documents to the folder.
Then she placed the folder in her handbag.
"Let's go to the restaurant."
At 9:40, Leonard Price was waiting in the private office behind the Grand Aurelia's main dining room.
The office was small by the standards of the building. It contained a desk, two leather chairs, a bookcase, and a framed photograph of the restaurant's original staff.
Leonard stood when Eleanor entered.
"Ellie."
She smiled.
"Leonard."
He came around the desk and embraced her carefully.
"You should have told me you were coming."
"I wanted to see the restaurant first."
"How was dinner?"
"Good."
"Only good?"
"André's consommé was excellent."
Leonard laughed.
"That's better."
Then his expression changed.
"Did you see the folder?"
"I did."
"Those are the original agreements."
"I know."
"Martin found discrepancies in the summaries. Several service contracts have been moved to a newly formed company."
"Who owns it?"
"We're trying to establish that."
"Who authorized the transfers?"
"Christopher Vane signed the instructions."
Eleanor sat down.
"Did Richard know?"
Leonard hesitated.
"I believe he did."
"Do you have evidence?"
"Not yet."
Eleanor opened her handbag and removed the folder from the bank.
She placed it on the desk.
Leonard looked at it.
"Is that...?"
"The original trust agreement."
He did not touch it.
"Where did you get that?"
"From the safe deposit box."
Leonard lowered himself into the chair opposite her.
"Thomas was right to keep those."
"He usually was."
Leonard opened the folder.
He read the first page.
Then the second.
When he reached the voting schedule, he stopped.
"Forty-two percent."
"Yes."
"And the amendment?"
"Still valid."
Leonard looked up.
"Then the acquisition cannot proceed without your approval."
"Correct."
He leaned back.
For a moment, relief crossed his face.
Then concern replaced it.
"Richard is not going to accept that easily."
"I don't expect him to."
"He'll argue that the trust's position was understood differently."
"Then he can argue with the original documents."
Leonard closed the folder.
"Ellie, there's something you should know."
"What?"
"Richard has already instructed the transition team to prepare the restructuring announcement."
"Before approval?"
"Yes."
"How many employees are affected?"
"At least one hundred and forty across the group. Possibly more."
Eleanor looked at him.
"Have they been told?"
"Some managers have been asked to prepare notices."
"Have the employees been informed?"
"Not formally."
"Then stop it."
Leonard looked at her.
"I can't simply stop every instruction from the transition team."
"You're the chairman."
"Richard's firm has secured support from several investors. They believe the transaction is inevitable."
"Is it?"
Leonard looked at the trust document.
"No."
"Then act accordingly."
He was silent.
Eleanor softened her voice.
"Leonard, I know you are under pressure. I know the group has debts and difficult decisions ahead. I'm not asking you to pretend that everything can remain as it was when Thomas and I opened the restaurant."
"Then what are you asking?"
"That we do not sell the future of the company to someone who believes the people inside it are disposable."
Leonard looked down.
"I should have raised concerns earlier."
"Yes."
"I thought I could manage Richard."
"Can you?"
He did not answer.
Eleanor closed her handbag.
"Then we need an independent review."
Leonard nodded.
"I'll arrange it."
"And I want every employee who has been dismissed or pressured to sign an agreement to have access to independent advice."
"That could become expensive."
Eleanor looked at him.
"More expensive than losing the company?"
Leonard gave a small, tired smile.
"No."
A knock sounded at the door.
Martin Cole entered.
"Leonard, the board members are arriving."
He stopped when he saw Eleanor.
"Mrs. Grant."
"Good morning, Martin."
Martin looked at the folder.
"Is that the trust agreement?"
"Yes."
He swallowed.
"Then I think we need to discuss the transaction immediately."
Eleanor nodded.
"Agreed."
Leonard stood.
"Let's bring everyone in."
At 10:03, Richard Halston arrived.
He entered the conference room carrying a leather portfolio and speaking into his phone.
"No, don't release anything yet. I said wait until I call you."
He ended the call.
Then he looked up.
Eleanor was seated at the far end of the table.
For a moment, he did not recognize her.
Without the beige coat, she wore the same plain blue dress, but the room changed the way people saw her. Her posture was straight. Her handbag rested beside her chair. The old leather looked even more worn against the polished conference table.
Richard frowned.
"Mrs. Grant."
"Mr. Halston."
He looked toward Leonard.
"Why is she here?"
Leonard did not answer immediately.
Eleanor did.
"Because this meeting concerns the company I helped establish."
Richard gave a short laugh.
"I'm sorry?"
She opened the folder.