Chapter 14 - Serena’s Offer.
Mara turned toward Ethan so quickly that the room blurred for half a second.
He did not deny Serena’s statement.
That was worse than any expression of surprise.
“You knew?”
Ethan’s voice stayed measured.
“I knew the name.”
“That is not what she said.”
Serena leaned back in her chair.
“She asked whether you knew about Northstar.”
“I knew there were irregularities involving a vendor using that name.”
Mara stared at him.
“Before tonight?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Three weeks.”
Mara laughed once in disbelief.
“You let me tell you my sister’s story like this was all new.”
“The connection to Claire was new.”
“You knew enough to be investigating the restaurant.”
“I was investigating the acquisition.”
“Same building.”
“Not the same evidence.”
Serena watched them with visible satisfaction.
Rachel stepped forward.
“Ms. Knox, if you have documents relevant to this situation, preserve them.”
Serena looked at the folder.
“I will.”
Mara ignored Rachel.
She looked at Ethan.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t know whether I could trust you.”
The answer was so direct that it hurt more than a softer lie would have.
Mara nodded slowly.
“Fair.”
Ethan frowned.
“That’s not sarcasm.”
“I know.”
She folded her arms.
“I didn’t trust you either.”
Serena’s smile faded slightly.
The argument she wanted was not growing the way she expected.
Mara turned back to her.
“What’s in Victor’s folder?”
Serena tapped it with one finger.
“A record of every visit Ethan’s acquisition team made to Aurelia during due diligence.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed.
“My team never conducted due diligence here.”
“Daniel did.”
“Without authorization?”
“Ask him.”
“Where is he?”
Serena smiled.
“Not here.”
Mara stepped closer.
“Where is Claire?”
Serena’s smile disappeared.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you know who took the flash drive from my apartment?”
“No.”
“Do you know why a photograph of Claire was handed to Victor tonight?”
“No.”
“You’re suddenly short on answers.”
Serena stood.
“Because you’re asking the wrong questions.”
“What’s the right one?”
Serena looked at Ethan.
“Why was Cole Meridian willing to pay almost forty million dollars more for Aurelia’s parent company than the business is worth?”
Mara looked at Ethan.
He remained silent.
Serena continued.
“You thought he was buying restaurants.”
“I never thought anything about his deal.”
“You should.”
Serena walked around the desk.
“The parent company owns more than restaurants.”
“What else?”
“Private-event facilities, two boutique hotels, a data-services subsidiary, and the archival rights to every security system installed in those properties for the last ten years.”
Rachel’s expression changed.
“Archival rights?”
Serena nodded.
“Historical footage, access logs, event records.”
Ethan’s voice became cold.
“That language was not in the summary materials.”
“It’s buried in Schedule Fourteen.”
Rachel looked at him.
“Have you seen Schedule Fourteen?”
“No.”
Mara remembered Claire’s warning.
Don’t let him open the acquisition files.
She looked at Serena.
“Why would Claire tell Ethan not to sign?”
Serena’s face changed slightly.
“You spoke to Claire?”
There it was.
Not denial.
Surprise.
Mara held onto it.
“She called me tonight.”
Serena went still.
Ethan watched her closely.
“You didn’t know she would.”
Serena recovered.
“I told you I don’t know where she is.”
“That may be true,” Rachel said.
“But you know why she matters.”
Serena looked toward the office door.
Then she made a decision.
“Mara, I want to speak to you alone.”
“No.”
“I’m not asking Ethan.”
“I’m answering for myself.”
Serena’s jaw tightened.
“I can tell you where the original procurement ledger is.”
Mara froze.
“Claire’s ledger?”
“The one she copied.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“You can say it in front of us.”
Serena ignored him.
“Mara, I can also tell you who paid Claire to disappear.”
Mara’s pulse jumped.
“Who?”
“Five minutes alone.”
“No.”
“Then you’ll never know.”
Mara studied her face.
Serena believed she finally had leverage.
Mara thought about Claire’s note.
Do not trust the first person who confesses.
Do not trust the person who looks most guilty.
Mara slowly shook her head.
“You don’t know where Claire is.”
Serena’s eyes narrowed.
“You already proved that when I said she called me.”
Mara stepped closer.
“But you do know who paid her.”
Serena said nothing.
“And you desperately want me separated from Ethan before you tell me.”
Mara looked at Rachel.
“That means whatever comes next is designed to make me turn on him.”
Serena’s confidence cracked.
Just a little.
Mara saw it.
Then Serena’s phone lit up on the desk.
A message preview appeared before she could cover it.
VICTOR IS IN POSITION.
Mara read it.
So did Ethan.
Serena grabbed the phone.
Ethan’s expression changed.
“You said Victor disappeared from me.”
Serena looked toward the door.
Mara blocked it.
May you like
“Where is he in position?”
Serena finally looked afraid again.
