The Sixty-Eight Percent
Chapter 02 - The Sixty-Eight Percent
Richard stared at the employees bent respectfully toward Gabriel.
“This is some kind of performance.”
No one moved until Gabriel gave a small nod.
The staff straightened.
Airport director Helen Brooks approached carrying a sealed portfolio. She had worked under Richard for eleven years and had never contradicted him publicly.
“Three weeks ago,” she said, “Navarro Global Infrastructure completed the purchase of sixty-eight percent of Sterling International’s voting shares.”
Richard turned toward her.
“Impossible.”
“The transaction cleared federal review yesterday.”
“I would have been notified.”
“You were.”
Helen opened the portfolio and removed copies of twelve notices delivered to Richard’s executive office. Each bore the signature of his chief of staff confirming receipt.
Richard scanned the pages.
The buyer’s name did not appear as Navarro. The acquisition had been conducted through Meridian Civic Holdings, a company Richard assumed represented a pension fund.
Gabriel was its founder and sole controlling owner.
Amelia looked at him.
“You bought the airport?”
Gabriel’s composure slipped for the first time.
“I was going to tell you tonight.”
“My father threatened to deport you while I defended you, and you already controlled the building?”
“I did not know he would do this.”
Richard seized on the tension.
“You hear that, Amelia? He lied to you.”
Gabriel did not deny it.
“I withheld part of the truth because the acquisition required confidentiality. That was wrong. It does not make the document in your father’s hand real.”
Helen turned to the security agents.
“Mr. Navarro’s citizenship and clearance were verified before the purchase. Release the checkpoint order.”
The agents stepped away.
The immigration liaison examined Richard’s paper more closely.
The identification number belonged to another man.
Richard had not merely misunderstood Gabriel’s status.
Someone inside the airport had manufactured a deportation file.
Gabriel looked at Richard.
“I came today without announcement because the board received reports of discrimination, forged security incidents, and retaliation against employees who complained.”
“You came to spy.”
“I came to see whether the reports were true.”
“And you used my daughter.”
Amelia let go of Gabriel’s arm.
“No one used me.”
Richard faced her.
“You knew him for eight months. I raised you.”
“You also just threatened to destroy an innocent man because you dislike where his parents were born.”
Richard’s face reddened.
“This family built this airport.”
Gabriel glanced toward the workers lining the terminal.
“People like my father built it.”
Richard froze.
Twenty-five years earlier, Gabriel’s father had been a baggage mechanic at Sterling International.
May you like
He died beneath a defective cargo loader.
The accident report carried Richard Vance’s signature.
