Chapter 4 - The Truth About Voss
"Step away from her, Voss," a heavy voice boomed from the darkness behind him.
Calvin stepped into the office doorway, holding a four-foot steel pry bar he’d pulled from the maintenance rig outside. He looked broad, imposing, and completely unfazed by Voss's expensive suit.
Voss evaluated Calvin, calculated the odds, and slowly lowered the torque wrench.
"You're making a mistake, old man," Voss sneered. "This is a civil property dispute between family members. You're committing felony breaking and entering."
"This shop belongs to Northstar Fabrication LLC," I said, stepping behind Calvin with the heavy server unit cradled in my arms. "I am fifty-percent owner and managing partner. My name is on the operating agreement filed with the state of Pennsylvania. You are the trespasser, Graham."
Voss chuckled dryly. "Check your state filings tomorrow morning, Laurel. Your husband’s 'assignment' was executed and recorded in Harrisburg at 4:00 PM today. As far as the Commonwealth is concerned, Bernice holds 100% of Grant's estate, including his voting shares in Northstar. And she just signed an exclusive asset purchase agreement with my firm."
"For how much?" I demanded, looking at Bernice. "How much did he offer you to betray your son’s legacy?"
Bernice squared her narrow shoulders. "Two million dollars. Cash. Enough to fix the farm and live comfortably in my final years without having to ask you for handouts."
"Eighteen million," I whispered, horrified. "The national manufacturer offered eighteen million, Bernice! He’s buying it from you for two million and flipping it to them before the end of the week! He’s stealing sixteen million dollars from our family!"
Bernice froze. She looked at Voss, her silver hair catching the beam of the flashlight. "Graham? What is she talking about?"
Voss’s face turned to stone. "Don't listen to her, Bernice. She's desperate. She's lying to manipulate you."
"Show her the contract, Graham," I pressed, taking a step forward. "Show her the secondary transfer clause. I know how corporate strippers operate. You put an option clause in section four, didn't you? You pay her two million over ten years, take title tonight, and assign the patent to Global Industrial Solutions on Friday for nine figures."
Bernice looked down at the blue folder sitting on the desk. Her hands began to tremble. "Graham... is that true? You told me two million was the total value of the patent."
"Shut up, Bernice!" Voss snapped, dropping his polite facade entirely. "You signed the contract. The deal is done. If you attempt to renege, my legal team will freeze your accounts, attach a lien to your farm, and leave you penniless in a county home."
Bernice sank into the desk chair, her face going pale gray.
"We're leaving," Calvin said, keeping the pry bar pointed at Voss's chest. "Walk backward, Laurel."
I held the server tightly, backed out of the office, and ran into the night air with Calvin right behind me.
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As we reached the truck, I looked back at the illuminated window. Voss was standing over Bernice, pointing his finger violently at her face while she wept into her hands.
She had built her own trap, and now she was caught in it with him.
