Chapter 13: The Battle For Cross Industries
The Cross Industries boardroom had never been this quiet.
Thirty executives sat around the long glass table.
People who had built careers under Daniel Cross.
People who had trusted his decisions.
People who now watched him enter the room like a stranger.
At the center stood Alexander.
Calm.
Confident.
Prepared.
Daniel stopped at the doorway.
“You called an emergency meeting.””
Alexander smiled.
“Yes.””
Daniel looked around.
“You did it without me.””
“I had no choice.””
A few board members looked uncomfortable.
Daniel noticed.
They weren’t surprised.
They had already heard a story.
Alexander had prepared them.
“What are you telling them?””
Alexander placed a folder on the table.
“The truth.””
Daniel walked closer.
“What truth?””
Alexander opened the folder.
Inside were financial reports.
Private documents.
Old records.
The same kind of evidence Lily had warned him about.
“You have become emotionally compromised.””
The room shifted.
Daniel stared.
“Excuse me?””
Alexander looked at the board.
“Daniel’s judgment has been affected by personal matters.””
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“Personal matters?””
Alexander glanced toward the documents.
“The sudden appearance of a daughter who disappeared for fourteen years.””
A murmur moved through the room.
“The discovery of an unknown heir.””
Another pause.
“And Daniel’s willingness to risk the company because of them.””
Daniel looked at the board members.
“Is that what he told you?””
Nobody answered.
Alexander continued.
“Cross Industries has survived because we have always placed the company above individual emotions.””
Daniel laughed quietly.
“You mean above people.””
Alexander ignored him.
“Today, I am asking the board to temporarily remove Daniel from leadership until an investigation is complete.””
Silence.
Then Daniel noticed something.
A few board members avoided eye contact.
They were afraid.
Not convinced.
Afraid.
Alexander had pressured them.
Daniel stepped toward the table.
“You want to know why I left this company vulnerable?””
Alexander smiled.
“I’m listening.””
“Because I trusted my family.””
The room went silent.
Daniel looked directly at Alexander.
“I trusted the person sitting across from me.””
Alexander’s expression changed slightly.
Daniel continued.
“I trusted the man who promised to help me find my daughter.””
Alexander said nothing.
“And while I was searching for Lily, you were hiding her.””
The board members looked shocked.
Alexander’s calm expression disappeared.
“That is a personal accusation.””
“No.””
Daniel placed Lily’s documents on the table.
“This is a family crime that became a company crime.””
He opened the folder.
“Hidden accounts.””
“Illegal transfers.””
“Payments made to keep my daughter away.””
The room erupted with whispers.
Alexander stared at him.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing.””
Daniel looked at him.
“For the first time in fourteen years, I understand everything.””
Then the boardroom doors opened.
Everyone turned.
Lily walked in.
The room froze.
Alexander’s face went pale.
Because he had never expected her to appear.
Daniel looked at his daughter.
“Are you sure?””
Lily nodded.
“Yes.””
She walked toward the table.
“I spent fourteen years hiding because I was afraid nobody would believe me.””
She looked at the board.
“But I kept every piece of evidence.””
Alexander stepped forward.
“You have no idea what you’re risking.””
Lily looked at him.
“I already risked everything.””
She placed a small drive on the table.
“This contains the original records.””
Alexander’s expression changed.
Daniel noticed.
Fear.
Real fear.
The board members looked at the drive.
One executive spoke.
“What exactly is on this?””
Lily answered:
“The truth about how Cross Industries was controlled for years.””
Alexander shook his head.
“She manipulated these files.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Then why are you afraid of them?””
Alexander had no answer.
Security entered the room.
Daniel turned.
“Take copies of everything.””
Alexander laughed suddenly.
A cold, bitter laugh.
“You think this ends here?””
Daniel stared.
Alexander leaned closer.
“You still don’t know what your father planned.””
Daniel frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
Alexander smiled.
“The final document.””
Lily’s face changed.
“What document?””
Alexander looked at her.
“The one you never found.””
The room went silent.
Daniel felt a chill.
“Where is it?””
Alexander looked toward the window.
Then smiled.
“Already delivered.””
Daniel’s phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown number.
One image.
A document sitting on his office desk.
The title was visible.
*Cross Legacy Final Succession Plan.*
Daniel stared.
Because beneath the title was one name.
Not his.
May you like
Not Alexander’s.
Noah’s.
