Chapter 15 - The Board
By nine the next morning, I had slept forty-two minutes.
I still joined the emergency board meeting.
Not from home.
Not from the office.
From Martin’s conference room with two lawyers beside me and a cup of coffee I was not allowed to finish because my doctor had opinions about caffeine.
Seven board members appeared on screen.
Three looked nervous.
I knew exactly which three.
I started without small talk.
“Last night, fraudulent documents were filed attempting to transfer control of my holding company and my shares in Mercer Design Group. My husband and father-in-law are under investigation. Effective immediately, all authority previously extended to Ryan Mercer is revoked.”
Board member Thomas Reed leaned back. “Claire, this is a lot. Maybe we should postpone major decisions until your personal situation settles.”
There it was.
My personal situation.
A phrase designed to make theft sound like hormones.
“No,” I said. “We’re making decisions now.”
Thomas frowned. “Are you sure that’s wise in your condition?”
Elena Park spoke before I could.
“My condition is CFO, Tom. And I agree with Claire.”
I almost smiled.
Martin’s associate displayed the forged resignation letter.
Then the attempted bank authorization.
Then Victor’s email archive showing communication between Ryan, Madison, Grant, and someone labeled T.R.
Thomas Reed went very still.
I looked directly into the camera.
“Tom, is T.R. you?”
His face flushed.
“I don’t know what you’re implying.”
“I’m asking a yes-or-no question.”
He disconnected.
Two seconds later, another board member disconnected.
Then the third.
Elena said, “That’s not subtle.”
We voted to suspend all three pending investigation.
The motion passed unanimously among those remaining.
Then my assistant entered the conference room carrying a certified envelope.
“It was delivered to your office this morning.”
The return address belonged to Hawthorne Private Capital.
Madison’s firm.
Martin opened it with gloves.
Inside was a notice of default.
Against Mercer Heights Holdings.
Six point eight million dollars.
I stared at the page.
“They actually funded the loan?”
Martin scanned quickly.
“Looks like they released two million yesterday based on the forged collateral package.”
My mouth went dry.
“Where did the two million go?”
Elena checked the wire data Victor had provided.
Her face changed.
“Not to Grant.”
“Then where?”
She rotated her laptop.
The receiving account was in the Cayman Islands.
May you like
Account holder: RYAN MERCER.
The House He Thought Was His
