Chapter 4 – The Boardroom
By nine o'clock the next morning, the executive boardroom of Pierce Holdings was unusually quiet.
The polished walnut table reflected the anxious faces of twelve board members. Some had worked beside Christopher's father for more than thirty years. Others had been appointed by Estelle after his death.
No one knew why Christopher had called an emergency meeting.
Only that it couldn't wait.
The elevator doors opened.
Christopher stepped inside carrying a single leather briefcase.
Emma wasn't with him.
For the first time in years, she was somewhere no member of the Pierce family could find her.
Three former Secret Service agents hired overnight now guarded the undisclosed location.
Christopher intended to keep it that way.
A moment later, Estelle entered.
Elegant as ever.
Pearls around her neck.
A navy silk suit.
Not a wrinkle.
Not a trace of fear.
She offered a practiced smile.
"Christopher, this better be important."
He didn't answer.
Instead, he placed a thick stack of documents in front of every director.
"Open to page seven."
Confused murmurs filled the room.
Then silence.
One director adjusted his glasses.
"These... these are two different versions of your father's will."
Another leaned forward.
"The signatures are identical."
Daniel Mercer stood beside the projector.
"Our forensic examiner confirmed that one document was altered after Harrison Pierce's death."
Estelle laughed softly.
"What a ridiculous accusation."
Christopher finally looked at her.
"It's not an accusation."
He pressed a button.
A waveform appeared on the screen.
"The recording you're about to hear was recovered yesterday."
Juliette's voice filled the room.
"If Emma stays alive, none of this belongs to us."
Several directors exchanged uneasy glances.
Then Estelle spoke.
"Make sure the little problem never reaches the lawyers."
The room went dead silent.
One elderly board member slowly removed his glasses.
"My God..."
Another whispered,
"That's Estelle."
She remained perfectly still.
"You've edited that recording."
"No," Yvette said as she entered the room carrying a sealed evidence case.
"The police crime lab authenticated every second."
Estelle's composure cracked for the first time.
"You called the police?"
Christopher's expression never changed.
"I called everyone."
As if on cue, the boardroom doors opened once more.
Two detectives walked inside.
Behind them came agents from the district attorney's office.
The lead detective approached Estelle calmly.
"Mrs. Pierce, we'd like to ask you several questions regarding the attempted murder of Emma Monroe."
Gasps echoed around the table.
Estelle rose slowly.
"You have no proof."
Christopher opened the briefcase one final time.
Inside was Rachel Monroe's diary.
Its final page had been marked with a yellow tab.
He read the last sentence aloud.
"If anything happens to me, Christopher's mother is responsible."
The detective gently reached for Estelle's arm.
"This conversation can continue downtown."
For the first time in her life, Estelle Pierce looked completely powerless.
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But Christopher had a feeling the battle was only beginning.
Because people willing to kill for a fortune rarely surrendered after losing the first round.
