Chapter 2: Five Minutes Later
Chapter 2: Five Minutes Later
Matthew was halfway through his second glass of eighteen-year-old scotch when his phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
He ignored it.
Another notification appeared.
ACCOUNT ACCESS RESTRICTED
He frowned.
Probably another banking glitch.
Then his CFO called.
"Matthew..."
The man's voice sounded panicked.
"What?"
"Our operating credit line just disappeared."
"What are you talking about?"
"The bank suspended it."
Matthew laughed.
"They can't."
"They already did."
Another call interrupted.
Then another.
Three board members.
Two investors.
Outside legal counsel.
His assistant.
Everyone talking at once.
"Our acquisition funding froze."
"The wire transfer was reversed."
"Three institutional investors just requested emergency meetings."
"Our largest supplier suspended deliveries."
Matthew stood up.
"This has to be some mistake."
Then his office television flashed BREAKING NEWS.
A respected financial journalist announced that multiple investment partners had unexpectedly withdrawn confidence in NexusCore pending an internal governance review.
No accusations.
No scandal.
Just uncertainty.
On Wall Street...
Uncertainty killed faster than guilt.
Matthew called the chairman of the board.
No answer.
He called Lauren.
She answered immediately.
"Matt..."
"Everything's collapsing."
There was a pause.
Then she asked the question that chilled him.
"Did your wife finally tell her father?"
Matthew's stomach tightened.
"No."
"You'd better hope she didn't."
The line went dead.
May you like
For the first time that night...
He felt afraid.
