Chapter 13 - The Deadline
I had always believed Ryan and I met by accident.
A charity auction in Dallas.
He spilled wine near my table.
I laughed.
He apologized.
Two months later, we were dating.
The photograph destroyed that memory.
Ryan had been at my grandmother’s ranch two years before our supposed first meeting.
Dad recognized the event.
“A supplier reception.”
“Caldwell Manufacturing attended.”
Charles nodded slowly.
“I brought Ryan.”
I looked at him.
“Did he meet me?”
“I don’t know.”
Then Dad remembered.
“You gave a speech that afternoon.”
I had.
A short speech about my grandmother’s scholarship foundation.
Ryan would have seen me.
He would have heard my name.
He would have known who my family was.
The chance meeting two years later suddenly looked different.
The ledger was even worse.
Transaction codes matched millions in stolen funds.
Initials linked Diane.
Eric.
Natalie.
Ryan.
There were also notes beside certain entries.
EH SIG.
EH POA.
JH EXPOSURE.
One entry read simply.
PHASE THREE - SEPT 1.
Today was August 19.
Thirteen days.
Charles studied the page.
“What happens September first?”
Margaret searched contracts.
She found the answer.
Caldwell Manufacturing’s largest credit facility renewed on September 1.
Without renewal, the company would default.
Ryan planned to strip the remaining cash before then.
Meridian’s acquisition letter was dated September 3.
They expected Caldwell to collapse within forty-eight hours.
Dad looked at Charles.
“You have thirteen days to prevent the default.”
Charles rubbed his face.
“Without the patents, the bank won’t renew.”
I looked at Margaret.
“You said the patents might belong to my trust.”
“Might.”
“Can we establish it before September first?”
She hesitated.
“If we get an emergency injunction.”
That became our deadline.
Recover the misappropriated patent rights.
Stop Meridian.
Protect Caldwell’s employees.
Freeze Strategic Holdings.
And prevent Ryan from moving the money.
Ryan responded by going public.
That evening, a local business reporter published a story.
HEIRESS FATHER TARGETS SON-IN-LAW’S FAMILY BUSINESS AMID BITTER DIVORCE.
The article quoted an anonymous source claiming Dad was using his wealth to destroy Ryan because he had never approved of our marriage.
Another source said I had authorized every transaction and was rewriting history after a marital argument.
The comments were brutal.
Gold digger.
Spoiled heiress.
Rich family revenge.
Dad wanted to sue.
Margaret told him not yet.
“They want us distracted.”
Then my phone buzzed.
Ryan had posted a photograph of Lily and him from Christmas.
Caption.
A father will do anything to protect his daughter.
My blood ran cold.
Minutes later, Sandra Ruiz called.
“Emily.”
“Ryan filed another emergency motion.”
“For what?”
May you like
“Immediate unsupervised custody.”
“And the hearing is tomorrow morning.”
