Chapter 4: Public Masks Fall
The emergency board meeting lasted less than forty minutes.
Matthew entered believing he still controlled the room.
He left carrying a cardboard box.
The independent directors had seen enough.
Medical reports.
Photographs.
Financial misconduct.
Conflict-of-interest payments connected to Lauren Thorne.
Secret real estate purchases funded through company accounts.
Every excuse collapsed beneath documented evidence.
One board member spoke quietly.
"We trusted you."
Matthew looked around desperately.
"Richard Sterling is destroying me."
"No."
Another director answered.
"You destroyed yourself."
Outside the building, reporters surrounded him.
"Mr. Hayes!"
"Did you assault your wife?"
"Did you embezzle company funds?"
"Who owns the Hamptons property linked to Lauren Thorne?"
Matthew pushed through the cameras without answering.
Across every major business network, one headline repeated itself:
NexusCore CEO Removed Amid Abuse and Fraud Investigation.
Lauren disappeared before sunset.
Her social media accounts vanished.
Her phone was disconnected.
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She had mistaken Matthew's wealth for security.
Now there was nothing left to hold onto.
