Chapter 8 - THE THIRD PARTNER
The encrypted files contained thousands of pages.
Invoices.
Wire instructions.
Board drafts.
Internal messages.
Property records.
Arthur's team divided them among six lawyers.
My father brought in forensic accountants.
Detective Ellis obtained a warrant based partly on Ben's statement.
By noon, we had a name.
Victor Hale.
I knew him.
Everyone in New York finance knew him.
Victor was sixty-one.
Elegant.
Measured.
A former investment banker who had joined NexusCore's board before Series B.
He had also been one of the loudest voices praising Matthew's leadership.
“He's the adult in the room.”
Matthew used to say that.
Apparently Victor had been the adult teaching him how to steal.
The files showed Victor receiving consulting payments through a Delaware entity.
They also showed something worse.
He had negotiated the Cascade Meridian sale.
Arthur pointed at the screen.
“Cascade isn't an independent buyer.”
“Who controls it?”
My father asked.
“We're still tracing ownership.”
Ben leaned forward.
“I think Victor does.”
The room went silent.
“So Matthew was selling NexusCore's core assets to his own board member?”
I asked.
“Indirectly.”
Arthur nodded.
“At a depressed valuation.”
“Then after the company collapsed?”
My father finished the thought.
“They could rebuild the valuable assets elsewhere without the debt.”
I stared at the numbers.
NexusCore was worth more than four billion dollars at its last financing.
The licensing portfolio alone was worth far more than nine hundred forty million.
They were not selling.
They were looting.
My phone vibrated.
Lauren Thorne.
I stared at it.
Detective Ellis had advised me not to communicate with her.
I handed the phone to Arthur.
He declined the call.
A text appeared.
WE NEED TO TALK BEFORE MATTHEW FINDS OUT.
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
Another message followed.
HE'S GOING TO BLAME EVERYTHING ON ME.
My father gave a humorless smile.
“Fear is finally entering the partnership.”
I read the next message.
I HAVE PROOF.
“Should we answer?”
Arthur asked.
Detective Ellis was called.
She arranged the meeting.
Lauren refused to come to the precinct.
She refused to come to the hospital.
Finally, she agreed to meet prosecutors at her attorney's office.
Before that could happen, another development hit.
At 2:14 p.m., NexusCore's board scheduled an emergency meeting for four o'clock.
Purpose.
Executive misconduct.
Asset protection.
Leadership review.
Matthew was invited.
So was I.
“You're not going.”
My father said immediately.
I looked at him.
“I am.”
“You have cracked ribs.”
“And eleven-point-eight percent of a company someone is trying to steal.”
“You can appear remotely.”
“I spent seven years being absent.”
I slowly swung my legs over the side of the hospital bed.
Pain tore through my back.
I waited until it passed.
“I'm not being absent today.”
At 3:21 p.m., Rebecca helped me dress.
Loose black pants.
A white blouse that did not touch most of my injuries.
A dark coat across my shoulders.
I could barely lift my left arm.
But I could walk.
When the elevator doors opened on NexusCore's forty-ninth floor, every conversation stopped.
Employees turned toward me.
Some recognized me.
Most did not.
Then Matthew walked out of the boardroom.
He stopped.
For the first time since 11:17 the previous night, we stood face to face.
His eyes traveled over my bruises.
Then toward my father.
Then toward the detective behind us.
Matthew's confidence flickered.
Only once.
I stepped closer.
“Hello, Matthew.”
His mouth tightened.
“You shouldn't be here.”
May you like
I held his gaze.
“That seems to be the sentence you built your entire plan around.”
