Chapter 3 - The Woman in Green
Lauren Thorne appeared on television before noon.
She stood outside NexusCore’s glass headquarters wearing a cream coat and an expression of carefully rehearsed concern.
Reporters surrounded her.
“As chief strategy officer, I can confirm that Matthew Hayes has temporarily stepped away from daily operations due to a private family matter.”
Private family matter.
That was how she described twenty cane strikes and a hospital bed.
Lauren continued speaking.
“NexusCore remains financially strong.”
The business channel displayed the company’s stock price beside her face.
It had fallen thirty-one percent since the markets opened.
My father turned off the television.
“She is trying to calm the lenders.”
“She looks calm.”
“She is not.”
He showed me a photograph sent by Marcus.
Lauren’s car had left her apartment at 4:13 a.m.
She drove to a private storage facility in Brooklyn.
She remained there for twenty-two minutes before continuing to NexusCore.
“What was in the storage unit?”
“We are obtaining a warrant.”
My mother opened the hospital room door.
A nurse stood outside with a large bouquet of white orchids.
My body stiffened.
Every crushed petal from the penthouse returned to me at once.
“Take them away,” my mother said.
“There’s a card,” the nurse replied.
Marcus removed it with gloved hands.
The handwriting was Matthew’s.
YOU SHOULD HAVE KEPT COUNTING QUIETLY.
My father read the message once.
Then he handed it to the detective stationed outside my room.
“He wants me afraid,” I said.
“He is afraid,” my father replied.
“That is why he needs you to feel smaller than he does.”
An hour later, NexusCore’s board held an emergency meeting.
My father wanted me to rest.
I demanded a secure video connection.
The directors appeared on a monitor mounted across from my bed.
Most had known me during the company’s early years.
None had contacted me after Matthew removed my name from the website.
Matthew joined from his attorney’s office.
He wore a navy suit and a small bandage across his hand.
The sight of him made my heart race.
He smiled when he saw me.
“Clare, I’m glad you’re recovering.”
The board members looked away.
I forced myself to meet his eyes.
“I am recovering.”
Matthew’s attorney accused Sterling Capital of manufacturing a liquidity crisis to seize the company.
My father calmly presented the Northstar agreements.
Then he presented evidence of the Hamptons house, the shell corporations, and the forged intellectual property transfer.
Matthew’s smile disappeared.
Lauren remained silent beside him.
A director named Samuel Pierce cleared his throat.
“We should postpone any vote until an independent investigation is completed.”
Samuel had attended our wedding.
He had once called me the soul of NexusCore.
Now he would not look at me.
My father requested Matthew’s immediate suspension.
The vote ended four to four.
Samuel had blocked it.
Matthew leaned closer to his camera.
“You see, Clare?”
“You can call your father.”
“You can invent accusations.”
“But this company still knows who its leader is.”
Before the meeting ended, Lauren’s image froze.
For half a second, a reflection appeared in the glass behind her.
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A woman stood inside the attorney’s office holding a baby.
The baby wore one blue sock.
