Chapter 5 - THE FIRST INJUNCTION
At 4:32 a.m., my hospital room became a temporary legal office.
Arthur called a litigation partner.
My father called two directors at Sterling Capital.
Detective Ellis requested copies of the disputed documents.
A forensic technology specialist joined by video.
I sat in the middle of it all wearing a hospital gown with an IV in my arm.
For years, Matthew had told people I was too emotional for executive pressure.
Yet while he ran, I worked.
The specialist enlarged the electronic signature record.
“Mrs. Hayes, do you recognize this device?”
A computer identifier appeared on the screen.
I studied it.
“No.”
“Any chance you used a NexusCore-issued laptop on August fourteenth?”
“I haven't had a company laptop in six years.”
He nodded.
“The signature authentication came from a corporate device.”
Arthur leaned forward.
“Assigned to whom?”
The specialist typed.
His eyebrows rose.
“Lauren Thorne.”
My father went completely still.
I almost laughed.
Matthew and Lauren had forged my approval using Lauren's laptop.
Arrogance was remarkable.
It made intelligent people lazy.
Arthur's team filed for an emergency temporary restraining order before sunrise.
At 6:11 a.m., a judge agreed to hear arguments remotely.
Matthew's attorneys appeared seventeen minutes later.
Matthew did not.
His lawyer, Stephen Cole, looked irritated rather than alarmed.
“The allegations are speculative.”
Arthur answered calmly.
“The allegedly consenting founder is in a hospital bed with injuries inflicted by your client hours before the transaction.”
Cole's expression shifted.
The judge noticed.
“So the signature is disputed?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
I raised my hand slightly.
Arthur muted himself.
“What?”
“I want to speak.”
“You don't need to.”
“I know.”
He studied me.
Then nodded.
When the judge asked whether I had authorized the transfer, I leaned toward the camera.
“No, Your Honor.”
“Did you sign the document before the court?”
“No.”
“Did you authorize anyone else to sign it?”
“No.”
“Do you recognize the transaction?”
“No.”
The judge looked at Matthew's lawyer.
“Counsel?”
Cole cleared his throat.
“My client maintains that Mrs. Hayes previously granted him broad authority over NexusCore matters.”
I felt anger rise.
But I did not interrupt.
The judge asked the question for me.
“Does that authority specifically waive the founder-consent provision?”
Cole hesitated.
“We are reviewing that.”
The judge's expression hardened.
“Then review it after I protect the disputed assets.”
At 6:48 a.m., the court froze the transaction for seventy-two hours.
Arthur exhaled.
My father did not celebrate.
He knew better.
A temporary victory only forced the other side to reveal its next move.
At 7:03 a.m., my phone began ringing.
Matthew.
I stared at his name.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Detective Ellis entered while it was ringing for the sixth time.
“Don't answer alone.”
I looked at her.
“Can you record it?”
“With your consent.”
I pressed accept.
Neither of us spoke.
Matthew breathed on the other end.
Then he said my name.
“Clare.”
His voice sounded almost normal.
That frightened me more than anger.
“Where are you?”
I stared at Detective Ellis.
She nodded.
“Somewhere safe.”
Matthew exhaled slowly.
“You made a mistake.”
I looked at the twenty documented injuries on the medical chart.
May you like
“No, Matthew.”
“For the first time in seven years, I think I finally stopped making one.”
