Chapter 2 - Thirty-Two Million Reasons
Madison’s fallen chair drew every eye in the room.
Ethan did not look at her. He kept staring at the third page in the folder.
Claire knew exactly what he was reading: an emergency notice from the board audit committee placing him on administrative leave from Cole Meridian Holdings pending investigation.
His mouth opened once before words came out.
“This is fake.”
Arthur pulled out his phone. “It was filed at five forty-two this evening. You may call outside counsel if you’d like.”
Ethan looked at Claire. “You went to the board?”
“I went where the evidence took me.”
“What evidence?”
Claire leaned back. “You really want to do this here?”
He lowered his voice. “You have no idea how that company works.”
“I own forty-one percent of it.”
Madison looked from Ethan to Claire. “You told me she had no voting control.”
The sentence landed badly.
Ethan turned on her. “Stop talking.”
Claire’s eyes sharpened. That was the first useful thing Madison had said all night.
Arthur spoke calmly. “Mrs. Cole, we should leave.”
But Claire stayed seated.
“Ethan,” she said, “there are transfers from Meridian Infrastructure to six consulting entities. Three of those companies share a registered agent. Two share an address. One sent money to a property company that bought a house in Palm Beach.”
Madison went pale.
Claire saw it.
Ethan saw Claire see it.
“That means nothing,” he snapped.
“Maybe.” Claire glanced at Madison. “Who owns the Palm Beach house?”
Madison’s lips parted.
Ethan slammed the folder shut.
“Enough.”
Several guests began pretending to study their phones while listening to every word.
Arthur stepped closer. “The court order also prohibits destruction, alteration, or concealment of records.”
Ethan laughed once. “You think I’m scared of paperwork?”
“No,” Arthur said. “I think you should be scared of deleting anything after receiving it.”
Ethan’s expression finally cracked.
Claire stood.
For the first time all night, Ethan looked uncertain.
“You planned this,” he said.
“I planned to leave quietly.”
“Then why tonight?”
Claire touched the napkin to the scratch on her cheek. There was only the faintest line of red.
“I didn’t choose what you did tonight.”
Arthur’s younger assistant, Nora, stepped forward and handed Claire her coat.
As Claire turned to leave, Madison whispered behind her, “Claire, wait.”
Claire stopped.
Madison looked terrified now.
“There’s something you don’t know about the money.”
Ethan’s voice cut through the room.
“Madison, shut your mouth.”
May you like
She ignored him.
“The thirty-two million,” she said. “That isn’t the worst part.”
