Chapter 15 - The HearingThe courthouse hallway smelled like floor polish and bad coffee. Vivian arrived with two attorneys, a new ivory suit, and a face carefully arranged into concern.
"Naomi," she said, "I hope someday you understand this isn't personal."
"You came to my register and made it personal."
She looked toward a reporter nearby. "I was under tremendous stress that day."
"You still had a choice."
Inside, her counsel argued that the ownership dispute required temporary control by an independent fiduciary. Tessa challenged the basis of the filing and introduced the evidence of the forged proxy and deceased witness.
The judge leaned toward Vivian's lawyer. "Are you asking me to act on a document that identifies a dead man as a witness?"
He cleared his throat. "We dispute the interpretation."
"Then bring competent evidence."
The judge declined to grant the emergency freeze as requested and scheduled further proceedings. It wasn't a sweeping victory. It was a chance to keep my voice while the underlying claims were investigated.
Outside, Vivian moved close enough for only me to hear.
"You have no idea what your father did to keep that company."
I looked at her. "Then tell the truth under oath."
Her expression changed. For a moment, I saw fear beneath the polished arrogance.
Before she could reply, Tessa's phone rang. The independent accountant had found a separate group of invoice approvals bearing Dad's digital credentials. Millions of dollars had been transferred through the false charity billing network.
Dad stared at the summary on Tessa's screen.
"I never approved those payments."
"Can you prove it?" I asked.
May you like
He hesitated. "I don't know."
The courthouse doors opened behind us. Federal investigators walked toward Dad carrying a request for an immediate interview.
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