Chapter 3: The First Call
At 10:51 p.m., Theodore Laurent contacted Evelyn Shaw, general counsel for Laurent Capital.
At 10:54, Evelyn reviewed the emergency control provisions in the Vale-Crest operating agreement.
At 11:02, notices were delivered electronically to every board member.
At 11:07, the company’s chief financial officer received instructions to freeze all discretionary executive spending.
At 11:11, Marcus’s authority to approve transfers, contracts, bonuses, and property access was suspended pending an emergency board vote.
Marcus knew none of this.
He was still celebrating in the presidential suite.
Celeste lounged beside the marble fireplace while room service delivered champagne and strawberries.
“You should have done that years ago,” she told him.
Marcus loosened his tie.
“Isabella needed to understand that she was replaceable.”
Celeste touched the sapphire brooch.
“And this?”
“It belongs to you now.”
“It looks expensive.”
“It was her mother’s.”
Celeste smiled.
That was what Marcus liked about her.
She never asked whether cruelty was necessary. She only asked whether it benefited her.
At 11:18, Marcus’s phone vibrated.
A message from the chief financial officer appeared on the screen.
Your corporate purchasing authority has been temporarily suspended. Please contact the board secretary.
Marcus frowned.
He tried to open the executive banking portal.
Access denied.
He called the CFO.
No answer.
He called the chief operating officer.
No answer.
He called the chairman of the board.
The call went directly to voicemail.
Celeste watched his expression change.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
At 11:23, the suite television interrupted its music display with a hotel system notice.
EXECUTIVE CREDENTIALS UPDATED. PLEASE CONTACT ADMINISTRATION.
Marcus stood.
He crossed the room and pressed his key card against the private elevator panel.
May you like
The light flashed red.
For the first time that night, his confidence cracked.
