Chapter 5 - Four Thirty in the Morning

At 4:17 a.m., I entered a private conference room in the small hotel across the street.

My laptop was already open.

Margaret joined the secure video call first.

My father appeared next.

Then board members began filling the screen.

London.

New York.

Singapore.

Los Angeles.

Zurich.

Some wore suits.

Others wore sweaters over pajamas.

No one complained.

My father began without ceremony.

“At 10:38 p.m. local time, Julian Mercer ordered the removal of Elena Vale Mercer from the flagship resort.”

One board member frowned.

“On what grounds?”

“None.”

Another spoke.

“Was she disruptive?”

“No.”

“Threatening?”

“No.”

My father continued.

“She was removed while Mr. Mercer occupied a company-controlled penthouse with Camille Laurent.”

Faces hardened.

Margaret shared the transfer documents.

The room became completely silent.

Then she displayed the payments to Camille's consulting company.

Next came the insurance record for my grandmother's pendant.

One board member leaned toward his camera.

“Does Julian know we're reviewing this?”

“No,” Margaret said.

“Good.”

My father looked at me.

“Elena, before we vote, I need your position on record.”

I understood what he meant.

I was still Julian's wife.

I could protect him again.

For nine years, I had.

I could claim misunderstanding.

I could delay.

I could ask for an internal review without removing him.

I looked at the documents on the screen.

Then I remembered the security guards gripping my arms.

The silence of the lobby.

Camille wearing my grandmother's pendant.

Julian saying, “This is my resort.”

I spoke clearly.

“I support immediate suspension of Julian Mercer's executive authority pending full forensic audit.”

No one moved.

I continued.

“I also support suspension of all disbursement authority connected to Camille Laurent or any entity controlled by her.”

Margaret nodded.

My father asked the question.

“All voting members in favor?”

Hands rose across the screen.

One after another.

Unanimous.

At 4:36 a.m., Julian Mercer stopped being chief executive in everything except title.

At 4:39 a.m., his corporate cards were suspended.

At 4:42 a.m., financial signing authority was removed.

At 4:48 a.m., information technology began terminating privileged access.

At 4:51 a.m., security directors across twelve properties received new instructions.

At 4:56 a.m., the penthouse was reclassified as restricted corporate property.

I watched the updates arrive one by one.

Then Daniel sent me a message.

HE'S AWAKE.

A second message followed.

HE'S TRYING TO ACCESS HIS OFFICE.

I stood.

My father looked at me through the screen.

“Where are you going?”

“Home.”

He understood that I did not mean the hotel.

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I closed the laptop.

Sunrise was beginning.