Chapter 6 - The Uniform
Daniel looked toward the Marines in the hallway.
“You brought military personnel into a private family dispute?”
Colonel Harris answered calmly.
“They are not here to arrest anyone.”
A pause.
“They escorted me from the ceremony where your company was receiving a veterans-housing award.”
Daniel went pale.
Vale Development had built its public reputation around supporting military families.
At that same hour, its heir had confined the colonel’s daughter and prepared to demolish military housing for luxury projects.
Margaret whispered:
“This could destroy the company.”
Emily looked at her.
“That is what you are worried about?”
Margaret turned.
“Thousands of employees depend on us.”
Colonel Harris shook his head.
“No.”
“Employees depend on their jobs.”
“You depend on using them whenever accountability reaches your family.”
Daniel removed his tie.
The confident heir disappeared beneath the exhausted man standing there.
“I didn’t want anyone hurt.”
Emily stared.
“You only wanted me frightened.”
He had no answer.
Colonel Harris activated the coercion clause.
Vale Development’s access to the housing trust froze immediately.
Executive payments stopped.
Redevelopment approvals stopped.
Employee payroll and resident maintenance remained protected.
Margaret stared at the confirmation.
“You froze our company.”
Colonel Harris looked at her.
“No.”
“The trust froze people who tried to take it.”
Then an alert appeared.
One transfer had already cleared.
May you like
Thirty-two million dollars had left the housing reserve that morning.
The receiving company belonged to Margaret.
