Chapter 10 - THE FALL OF ELEANOR
By four o'clock that afternoon, the news of the impending federal indictments had sent shockwaves through the financial sector.
Outside the Hale corporate headquarters in downtown Chicago, dozens of news vans had gathered, their satellite dishes pointed toward the high-rise building.
Inside the executive boardroom on the top floor, Eleanor Hale sat alone at the massive mahogany table, watching the television screen in silence.
The ticker tape at the bottom of the broadcast scrolled continuously: HALE FINANCIAL EMBEZZLEMENT INVESTIGATION - FEDERAL WARRANTS ISSUED.
The heavy glass doors of the boardroom clicked open.
Eleanor didn't bother turning her head as footfalls approached her table.
Lily walked in, accompanied by her chief legal attorney and two federal marshals.
"You look tired, Eleanor," Lily said softly, stopping at the far end of the long table.
Eleanor slowly turned her gaze toward Lily, her eyes cold, hollow, and drained of their former authority.
"You destroyed a legacy that took three generations to build," Eleanor said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No," Lily corrected her firmly.
"You destroyed it the moment you decided money was worth more than your son's life."
"Julian didn't die in an accident because of bad roads, Eleanor."
"He died because he found out you were laundering money through his charitable foundation, and you tried to silence him."
Eleanor’s lip quivered slightly, but she said nothing.
May you like
The federal marshal stepped forward, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his belt.
"Eleanor Hale, you are under arrest for federal wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and corporate embezzlement."
