Chapter 8 - What Lauren Knew
Lauren surrendered to investigators at 4:40 p.m.
Not because police were arresting her.
Because she was terrified.
She entered through a private courthouse garage with two attorneys.
By six, she had requested immunity discussions.
Matthew learned about it from television.
He was staying in a furnished apartment owned by one of his college friends.
When Lauren's name appeared on the screen, he threw a glass against the wall.
His friend, Evan Cole, stared at him.
"You're paying for that."
Matthew ignored him.
"What exactly did Lauren do?"
Evan asked.
"Nothing."
"Then why does she need immunity?"
"She's panicking."
"About what?"
Matthew turned off the television.
"Business."
Evan looked at him.
"I saw Clare's hospital rumors."
Matthew's eyes hardened.
"What rumors?"
"Some reporter said she was admitted last night."
"She fell."
Evan stared.
Matthew looked away.
"She fell?"
"Yes."
"Twenty times?"
Matthew turned slowly.
Evan raised both hands.
"Okay."
"Leave."
"This is my apartment."
"Then I'll leave."
Matthew grabbed his jacket.
Evan spoke before he reached the door.
"Matt."
He stopped.
"I've known you since nineteen."
"Don't make me regret it."
Matthew left without answering.
At the hospital, Naomi received the first summary of Lauren's proffer.
She would not tell us confidential details obtained improperly.
But Lauren's attorneys had authorized several facts to be shared because they directly concerned me.
Naomi entered my room after sunset.
"Lauren wants to speak to you."
"No."
"That was my response."
My mother nodded approvingly.
Naomi continued.
"But she gave permission for me to tell you why she entered the penthouse."
I looked up.
"The red folder."
"Yes."
"Jonathan sent her?"
Naomi paused.
"She knew him as James Sullivan."
My father swore.
"Alias?"
"Apparently."
"How long?"
"Three years."
My stomach tightened.
"How does a dead sixty-something former financier meet a thirty-year-old strategy executive?"
Naomi looked at me.
"Through Matthew."
My father frowned.
"Matthew introduced them?"
"According to Lauren, yes."
The irony was almost elegant.
Matthew had brought Jonathan into Lauren's life.
Jonathan eventually turned Lauren against Matthew.
"What did Jonathan tell her?"
I asked.
"That Matthew had stolen your founder equity."
"True."
"That Matthew had forged your proxy."
"Apparently true."
"That there were secret payments."
"Also apparently true."
Naomi nodded.
"That is why Lauren trusted him."
"What did he want?"
"The original founder records."
"Why?"
"Lauren claims he said those documents could prove you legally controlled NexusCore."
I stared at her.
"And do they?"
"We don't know because Lauren never delivered the folder."
Everyone went still.
"What?"
I asked.
Naomi leaned forward.
"Lauren took the folder."
"She left your building."
"She got into a car."
"Then she changed her mind."
"Where is the folder?"
My father asked.
"Hidden."
"Where?"
"Lauren will disclose the location once a cooperation agreement is finalized."
I laughed painfully.
"Everyone wants immunity."
Naomi's expression stayed serious.
"Lauren has reason to."
"What did she do?"
A pause.
"She participated in the payments."
My chest tightened.
"She stole money?"
"She claims Matthew told her the transfers were part of a confidential acquisition reserve."
"Eleven million dollars to her company?"
"Her company was an intermediary."
"Where did the money go?"
Naomi looked at my father.
"Jonathan."
My father leaned back.
"So Matthew was paying him?"
"Not knowingly, according to Lauren."
"Then who was?"
Naomi answered.
"She was."
The room went quiet.
Lauren had been moving company money to Jonathan Shaw while believing she was funding a secret strategic project.
"Did she keep any?"
I asked.
"Approximately two million went to expenses she controlled."
"House?"
"Hamptons."
My stomach twisted.
The house Matthew had used for their affair had been paid for through diverted NexusCore money.
It was almost absurd.
Matthew had financed his betrayal with stolen corporate cash.
Naomi continued.
"There is more."
"There is always more."
"Lauren says Jonathan had one obsession."
"What?"
"You."
I stared.
"Me?"
"He asked about you constantly."
"Your role in the company."
"Your relationship with your father."
"Your marriage."
"Your signatures."
"Your original ownership."
My father became tense.
"What did he want from Clare?"
Naomi shook her head.
"Lauren doesn't know."
I looked toward the window.
The rain had stopped.
Manhattan glittered below.
Everything looked clean from far enough away.
At 8:13 p.m., Detective Ortiz arrived with news.
"The district attorney approved charges."
My heart pounded.
"Against Matthew?"
"Assault in the second degree."
"Possession of a weapon in connection with the assault."
"Additional counts may follow."
My father asked,
"Where is he?"
"We're locating him."
"Do you need help?"
Ortiz almost smiled.
"No."
Then she looked at me.
"Once he is arrested, there will be media."
"I know."
"You don't have to say anything."
"I know."
At 8:29, my hospital room television changed to breaking news.
Matthew was walking toward a black SUV outside a private apartment building.
Cameras surrounded him.
Reporters shouted.
"Mr. Hayes!"
"Is your wife hospitalized?"
"Did you assault Clare Sterling?"
"Is the IPO canceled?"
"Where is Lauren Thorne?"
Matthew kept walking.
Then two unmarked police vehicles pulled to the curb.
Detective Ortiz's partner stepped out.
Matthew stopped.
The entire world watched.
"Matthew Hayes?"
Matthew's face remained calm.
"Yes."
"We have a warrant for your arrest."
His attorney appeared from behind the SUV.
"Do not answer questions."
Matthew glanced directly into one of the cameras.
For half a second, our eyes seemed to meet through the television.
Then police handcuffed him.
My mother squeezed my hand.
My father did not move.
Matthew was placed inside the vehicle.
The financial ticker below the video showed NexusCore's estimated private valuation falling again.
Then another alert appeared.
NEXUSCORE BOARD TERMINATES CEO MATTHEW HAYES FOR CAUSE.
I exhaled.
Seven years.
I had spent seven years believing Matthew was unstoppable.
It took less than twenty-four hours for him to lose his office.
But power rarely disappears quietly.
At 9:02 p.m., Matthew's attorney stood outside the police station and read a statement.
"Mr. Hayes categorically denies intentionally harming his wife."
My body went cold.
The attorney continued.
"Evidence will show that Mrs. Hayes suffered injuries during an emotionally volatile domestic confrontation."
My father stood.
Naomi muttered,
"Here we go."
Then the attorney delivered the real attack.
"We also expect evidence to demonstrate that Mrs. Hayes and her father have been coordinating a long-planned effort to seize control of NexusCore."
Reporters erupted.
The attorney raised his voice.
"Mr. Hayes possesses recordings, documents, and financial records proving that Harrison Sterling secretly manipulated NexusCore from its earliest days."
I looked at my father.
His expression was unreadable.
Then the attorney added one final sentence.
"Those records include evidence that Clare Sterling Hayes knowingly participated."
The room went silent.
I whispered,
"Participated in what?"
Nobody knew.
May you like
But somewhere, Matthew had found something he believed could destroy me too.
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