Chapter 8 - Justice and Unmasking
By late afternoon, the media firestorm surrounding Vance Technologies had reached a global crescendo.
Richard Vance was held without bail in a federal detention facility. The board of directors voted unanimously to reinstate Eleanor as Chief Executive Officer and permanent trustee of the Vance estate.
The corrupt medical evaluators who had signed the fake conservatorship papers were stripped of their licenses and indicted for perjury and bribery.
In the quiet, marble-lined lobby of the Vance corporate tower, the evening sun streamed through the six-story glass windows, painting gold light across the floor.
Eleanor stood near the main entrance, holding a leather folder containing the company's new corporate charter. Her face was tired, but the haunted, cold look that had defined her for three years was completely gone.
Logan stood beside her, his hands tucked into his coat pockets. Ruby and Maya were sitting together on a plush leather sofa nearby, sharing a box of chocolate-covered strawberries and laughing at a cartoon on Ruby's phone.
"The board approved the new research initiative this afternoon," Eleanor said softly, looking at Logan. "We are establishing the Arthur and Maya Vance Foundation for Pediatric Mobility Engineering. Fifty million dollars in initial funding to design custom robotics and mobility devices for children with neuromuscular conditions."
Logan smiled gently. "Maya’s going to run you out of business if you let her design the prototypes."
"She's already assigned herself as chief testing officer," Eleanor laughed, a soft, genuine sound.
She turned to face Logan fully, looking up into his calm, steady eyes.
"I offered you the position of Vice President of Corporate Security today, Logan," she said. "A million dollars a year, full stock options, a home in Palo Alto."
Logan shook his head slowly. "I'm a valley guy, Eleanor. I like my workshop, my trees, and fixing old tractors for Dale Whitmore. Executive suits don't fit my shoulders right."
Eleanor didn't look disappointed. In fact, her eyes softened with deep, profound respect. "I knew you'd say that."
She reached into her purse and pulled out a key ring holding a single brass key.
"What's this?" Logan asked.
"The deed to the forty acres of coastal redwood forest adjoining your workshop property in Carmel Valley," Eleanor said gently. "Richard's shell company bought it two years ago to build a private resort. I bought it back from the estate this morning. Now it belongs to you and Ruby. Nobody will ever build a highway or a subdivision near your shop."
Logan looked at the brass key in his hand. For a man who rarely showed emotion, a sudden tightness formed in his throat.
"You didn't have to do that, Eleanor."
"You saved my daughter's life, Logan," Eleanor said, her voice rich with emotion. "You saw her when four hundred people looked right through her. You saved my family. A piece of forest is nothing compared to that."
She looked over at Maya, who was showing Ruby how the mechanical bird's wings operated.
"Can we... can we come visit the shop sometimes?" Eleanor asked, a rare, vulnerable hesitation in her voice. "Maya says she wants to learn how to weld heavy steel."
May you like
Logan looked at Eleanor, then at the two little girls laughing together on the sofa.
"The shop is always open, Eleanor," Logan said quietly. "For both of you."
