Chapter 13 - Eighty PercentThe first formal meeting between Daniel and Vivian took place in a conference room above the theater's lobby.
It was supposed to concern the property sale.
Instead, it became a struggle over who had the right to define reality.
Vivian arrived with Victor Hale and Elliot Crane.
Daniel brought his independent attorney, Caroline Shaw, and forensic accountant Samuel Ortiz.
The Briar Glen Arts Trust sent two trustees as observers.
A court reporter had not been retained; Caroline arranged for detailed meeting minutes instead.
Daniel insisted that all significant statements be documented.
Vivian sat at the head of the table.
"Before we begin," she said, "I want everyone to understand the severity of our financial position."
Samuel placed a report in front of her.
"We're trying to determine that severity accurately."
Vivian ignored him.
She explained that the Grand faced expensive repairs, reduced ticket revenue, and the possibility of losing insurance coverage if safety concerns remained unresolved.
Victor presented the Eastbank offer.
Eight million six hundred thousand dollars.
Assumption of specified liabilities, subject to due diligence.
A redevelopment concept preserving portions of the historic building.
An opportunity, he said, for the Vale family to exit an increasingly dangerous investment.
Daniel listened.
He had studied the agreement.
The proposal did not guarantee preservation of the performance hall.
It allowed Eastbank to seek substantial redevelopment approvals.
The name "Grand Theatre" might survive.
The theater itself might not.
When Victor finished, Daniel asked one question.
"Why was the acquisition package prepared six months before the safety incident?"
Victor leaned back.
"Commercial negotiations require preparation."
"Negotiations I rejected."
"We believed you were still considering the offer."
Daniel looked at Vivian.
"Did you tell him I had agreed?"
She lifted her chin.
"I told him I could obtain the necessary family approval."
"That's not the same thing."
"It's what responsible managers do. They create options."
Caroline interrupted.
"According to the operating agreement, a sale requires seventy-five percent approval. My client has forty-five percent. Mrs. Vale has thirty-five."
One trustee nodded.
"Together, that's eighty."
"Correct," Caroline said. "But only if Daniel actually consents."
Vivian pushed her chair back slightly.
"Daniel, we are arguing over something that could save this building from collapse."
He looked toward Samuel.
"Tell them what you found."
Samuel summarized the disputed restoration payments, missing work documentation, related-party transactions, and restricted funds requiring further review.
He was careful to distinguish confirmed accounting entries from suspected misconduct.
Vivian's face grew pale with anger.
"You're taking isolated transactions out of context."
"Then provide the supporting records," Samuel replied.
"I will."
"Good."
Victor glanced at his watch.
For the first time, he appeared eager to leave.
Daniel noticed.
After the meeting, Vivian followed Daniel into the corridor.
"You humiliated me."
He stopped.
"No. I asked for records."
"You had strangers question my integrity in front of trustees."
"They weren't strangers. They were professionals doing their jobs."
She stared at him.
"You think I wanted any of this?"
Daniel did not answer.
Vivian's eyes shone.
"When Father died, who handled the creditors? Who negotiated with the bank? Who kept Mother from losing everything?"
"You helped us."
"I saved us."
Daniel looked away.
"Maybe you did."
Vivian stepped closer.
"And what did you do? You left. You built a career. You came back for Christmas and fundraisers while I kept this place standing."
The accusation hurt because part of it was true.
Daniel had allowed Vivian to carry enormous responsibilities.
He had preferred design projects, distant clients, and the comfortable belief that his sister was handling everything.
He had ignored her exhaustion.
But exhaustion did not explain forged documents.
It did not justify using a child.
"You deserved help," he said quietly.
Vivian's expression softened.
"But you didn't deserve unquestioned control."
Her face hardened again.
"You have no idea what you're doing."
"Then I'll learn."
She stepped backward as though he had slapped her.
For a moment, Daniel wanted to apologize.
The old reflex almost won.
Then he remembered Jack.
He remembered Ben.
And he remained silent.
Later, Ruth told Samuel something that changed the investigation.
She had been reconciling records when she found a transfer memo linked to VH Advisory Group.
The memo referenced a personal credit facility issued by a private lender.
Vivian's personal company had borrowed against expected proceeds from an Eastbank-related transaction.
Samuel asked whether Ruth could provide the underlying agreements.
She could not.
They were not company records she had been authorized to access.
But the memo was enough to direct investigators toward a potentially relevant financial relationship.
Daniel listened carefully.
"Could Vivian lose her ownership interest if the deal collapses?"
Caroline answered.
"She may have pledged her units, but the LLC restricts transfers. A lender can't simply ignore those provisions. We need the agreement before reaching conclusions."
"So she might owe money she can't repay."
"Possibly."
Daniel felt an unexpected wave of sadness.
He had known Vivian was afraid.
He had not understood how deeply.
That night, Vivian received a message from Victor.
The bank won't extend the acquisition facility unless we can show credible seller approval. Find another way.
She read it in her dark kitchen.
Then she opened a locked drawer and removed a folder.
Inside were payment records from Northline, old approvals, and correspondence Victor had signed personally.
Vivian had kept copies for years.
Not because she expected to confess.
Because she had never trusted a partner who smiled too easily.
She spread the documents across the table.
One showed that Eastbank Advisory had approved project-management fees connected to Northline's restoration work.
Another contained instructions for redirecting a portion of those payments to affiliated entities.
A third referenced Victor's expectation that the Grand would be acquired at a favorable price after its financial difficulties became public.
Vivian stared at the papers.
She had spent months fearing Victor would expose her.
Now she realized he might be just as frightened of her.
She reached for her phone.
Then stopped.
Outside, headlights swept across her windows.
A car had pulled into the driveway.
May you like
When the doorbell rang, Vivian looked at the security screen.
Officer Bishop stood on the porch with another investigator.
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