Mary was unable to attend the crucial board meeting because Elizabeth, employing her cunning nature, cleverly orchestrated a distraction involving Mary’s tennis instructor. This instructor, skilled in his sport, managed to keep Mary occupied long enough for her to eventually fall asleep, which directly led to her absence from the meeting.

As a result, Elizabeth seized the opportunity and took charge of the company that same afternoon with a decisive vote of six to one. Mary, blissfully unaware of the unfolding events, remained asleep, completely oblivious to the betrayal and the loss of her position.