Chapter 5 - THE BOARDROOM CONSPIRACY
Richard did not go to the police immediately. He was a tactician. He knew Helena had deep connections and expensive lawyers. If he attacked without an airtight case, she would slither away and destroy Lila in the process.
Instead, Richard quietly hired the most ruthless private investigators in Seattle. He handed them Kenji’s tapes and gave them a single directive: Follow the money from eleven years ago. Find the offshore accounts.
At the mansion, Richard changed. He canceled his evening meetings. He started eating dinner in the staff kitchen, much to the shock of his head chef. He sat across from Lila and Emma, eating simple meals, asking Emma about her day.
Lila was wary at first. "You don't have to do this, Mr. Callahan. We are fine in the break room."
"My name is Richard," he said gently. "And this house has been a museum for too long. Kenji was my brother. That makes Emma family. And it means you are under my protection."
Lila looked into his eyes and saw no pity, only deep, agonizing remorse and a fierce, growing warmth. For the first time since Kenji died, Lila felt safe.
But the peace was short-lived. Helena, realizing Richard was slipping from her grasp, accelerated her plans. She called an emergency board meeting at Callahan Global, intending to initiate a vote of no confidence. She argued that Richard was losing his mind, fraternizing with the help, and becoming mentally unfit to lead the company.
"He is compromised," Helena told the board members in the glass-walled conference room. "He is erratic. If we don't remove him as CEO, the stock will plummet."
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Richard walked into the room just as she finished her speech. He wasn't wearing his usual tailored suit; he wore a simple black turtleneck, looking exactly like the hungry, dangerous visionary he had been a decade ago.
"The stock will be fine, Helena," Richard said, tossing a thick manila folder onto the center of the conference table. "Though I can't say the same for your freedom."
