Chapter 7 - Christmas Dinner With No Empty Seats
The dining table was set for twelve.
Daniel invited three board members who supported the buyout.
Two bankers attended with their spouses.
Margaret wore diamonds purchased through Mercer Strategic Infrastructure.
Richard drank more quickly than usual.
Grace sat at the far end of the table beneath Samuel’s portrait.
Daniel placed her there intentionally.
He took Samuel’s old chair.
Dinner began with a toast.
“To the future of Blackwood Manufacturing,” Daniel said.
Grace lifted no glass.
One director asked whether she planned to return to the board.
Daniel answered for her.
“Grace has accepted that corporate life is no longer healthy for her.”
Grace looked directly at the director.
“I have accepted no such thing.”
The room became quiet.
Daniel smiled.
“She’s been emotional this week.”
Margaret changed the subject.
During the main course, Daniel described North Vale’s acquisition as a rescue.
He claimed Blackwood faced pension liabilities that could destroy the company.
Grace understood the manipulation.
Daniel had stolen from the fund, then planned to use the resulting weakness as justification for selling the business to himself.
One banker asked whether the employee pension was fully funded.
Daniel answered yes.
Grace said, “No.”
Daniel’s fork stopped.
She continued.
“Twenty-three million dollars was transferred into a company owned by Daniel and his parents.”
Margaret put down her wineglass.
Richard stared at his plate.
One director looked toward Daniel.
“Is that true?”
“It was an approved alternative investment.”
“Where are the fiduciary approvals?”
Daniel’s smile disappeared.
“This is not the time.”
Grace removed Walter’s list from beneath her napkin.
“These retirees received reduced payments because of that transfer.”
Margaret reached for the papers.
Grace pulled them away.
Daniel leaned toward her.
“You promised not to create a scene.”
“I promised to attend dinner.”
He slid the red folder across the table.
“Sign the proxy.”
“No.”
“Sign it, and we discuss the pension privately.”
“No.”
Margaret laughed softly.
“She still believes refusing changes anything.”
Grace pressed the side button on her phone three times beneath the table.
The camera light blinked red.
Maya’s livestream connected.
Daniel stood.
The bankers’ spouses began looking toward the door.
One director asked to review the documents.
Daniel ignored him.
He came around the table and placed both hands on Grace’s chair.
“You have embarrassed me for the last time.”
Grace looked at him.
“Then explain the pension transfer.”
His voice lowered.
“You sign now, or you leave this table and this house with nothing.”
“This house belongs to my trust.”
Daniel laughed.
“You don’t deserve a seat here.”
He grabbed her hair.
The chair overturned.
May you like
And the Christmas trap finally closed.
👉 Grace had given Daniel every opportunity to answer with facts—he chose violence instead.
