Chapter 16 - Plan B
The rest of the audio was worse.
Martin asked how.
Vivian said, “The bride is under pressure. We document an argument. We produce the altered prenup. We show she benefits if Ethan is incapacitated. Hart says she appeared unstable. The press does the rest.”
I stopped the recording.
My hands were cold.
“If Richard hadn’t taken the glass, Ethan might have.”
Officer Brooks nodded.
“And if Ethan had collapsed, they intended to frame you.”
My father whispered, “This woman planned both outcomes.”
“Yes.”
A detective entered the bank conference room.
“We found Martin.”
“Where?” Brooks asked.
“At the family office.”
“Vivian?”
“No.”
“What was Martin doing?”
“Shredding documents.”
Brooks stood.
“Take him in.”
The detective nodded.
“He’s asking for counsel. But he said one thing before he stopped talking.”
We waited.
“He said Vivian is heading to Meridian.”
I stood so fast my chair tipped.
“My office?”
“Possibly.”
I called building security.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Then my assistant, Maya, picked up.
“Claire?”
“Maya, where are you?”
“At the office.”
“Why?”
“Neil told me there was an emergency board meeting.”
My stomach dropped.
“What emergency board meeting?”
“He said you authorized it.”
“I did not.”
I looked at Brooks.
She was already radioing units.
“Maya, listen to me. Leave the building right now.”
“What’s happening?”
“Do not ask questions. Take the stairs. Go to the lobby. Find security.”
“I’m on the twenty-seventh floor.”
“Go.”
Then a voice spoke near her.
Female.
Calm.
Elegant.
“Claire.”
I went completely still.
Vivian.
Maya gasped.
The phone rustled.
Then Vivian came on the line.
“You are making this much more painful than it needs to be.”
“Get away from Maya.”
“She is fine.”
“Where’s Neil?”
Vivian was quiet for a moment.
“Neil made his choice.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means people who panic are unreliable.”
“Vivian, police are coming.”
“I know.”
“Then leave.”
“I can’t.”
For the first time, I heard exhaustion beneath her control.
“I have spent thirty years keeping this family alive.”
“You almost destroyed it.”
“You think family wealth survives because good people make clean choices?”
“No. I think cowards use that sentence after dirty ones.”
Silence.
Then Vivian said softly, “Come to Meridian, Claire.”
“No.”
“If you want Maya to walk out safely, come alone.”
The call ended.
My father grabbed my arm.
“You are not going.”
Officer Brooks looked at me.
“She wants you there for a reason.”
I stared at my dark phone screen.
“Yes.”
And I finally understood the reason.
The only person who could still stop the Meridian merger without Vivian’s documents was me.
May you like
She did not need my signature anymore.
She needed my password.
