“Ce document ne décrit pas simplement un mandat temporaire de quatre-vingt-dix jours. Il indique que la cession des droits de vote survivra à la fin du mandat administratif aussi longtemps que les titres concernés resteront détenus.”
The room became silent.
The French attorney pulled the document toward herself.
The businessman reached for it at the same time.
The French investor placed one hand over the page first.
“No.”
One word.
The businessman stopped.
The investor looked toward the waitress.
“Say it in English.”
The waitress knew she had crossed the line now.
There was no returning to ordinary service.
So she told the truth carefully.
“The English summary says the transfer of voting authority is temporary.”
She pointed without touching the contract.
“The French clause says the voting-right assignment is irrevocable and survives termination of the ninety-day administrative mandate.”
The investor looked toward his attorney.
She was already reading.
The waitress continued:
“That means ending the temporary management arrangement would not automatically restore the voting rights.”
The businessman stood slightly from his chair.
“That is not what the clause means.”
The French attorney looked up.
“Yes, it is.”
The businessman froze.
The attorney turned several pages.
Her face tightened.
“Where is the reversal mechanism?”
The businessman sat again.
“It’s cross-referenced.”
“Where?”
He looked toward his general counsel.
The counsel did not answer immediately.
That silence became dangerous.
The French investor asked:
“Where?”
The businessman’s jaw tightened.
“Appendix C.”
The attorney flipped.
Appendix C contained administrative authority.
Not voting-right reversion.
She looked up.
“It is not here.”
The businessman said:
“There was a revision.”
The investor stared.
“What revision?”
The waitress stepped backward.
This was no longer her role.
She had identified the issue.
Now counsel had it.
She turned slightly to leave.
Then the French attorney said:
“Wait.”
The waitress stopped.
The attorney pointed toward another line.
“Can you read the beneficiary name?”
The waitress looked.
An entity.
An unfamiliar corporation.
Registered in Delaware from the address notation.
The waitress read it aloud.
The businessman interrupted.
“That is a special-purpose vehicle.”
The French investor looked toward him.
“Whose?”
The businessman answered too slowly.
“Our transaction vehicle.”