Chapter 17 - The Counterattack
Victor did not release the audio publicly.
Adrian expected anger.
Victor gave him silence.
Naomi delivered the recordings to investigators.
Marcus provided the security logs.
Howard Pierce provided the financial documents.
Lily corrected her statement about the recorder.
Maria was offered protection for Mateo.
This time, she told investigators everything.
Then Victor called an emergency shareholder meeting.
Adrian refused.
Victor expected that too.
Naomi invoked a provision allowing major shareholders to demand review when evidence of fiduciary misconduct existed.
Adrian suddenly had a problem.
He could control the board temporarily.
He could not control every shareholder.
The meeting was scheduled for Friday.
Serena asked to speak with Victor privately.
He agreed.
She looked exhausted.
“No cameras?”
“Everything in this house records now.”
She almost smiled.
“I deserve that.”
Victor said nothing.
Serena placed a flash drive on the table.
“What is that?”
“My insurance.”
“Against Adrian?”
“Against everyone.”
Victor did not touch it.
“What’s inside?”
“Messages.”
“Payments.”
“Instructions.”
“Years of them.”
Victor stared at her.
“Why keep it?”
“Because my mother taught me never to trust powerful men.”
Victor’s expression hardened.
“Apparently she forgot to teach you not to hurt children.”
Serena lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
She pushed the drive closer.
“There is something about Grace.”
Victor went still.
“What?”
“I never knew her death might be connected until this week.”
“Connected to what?”
“Adrian once told my mother that Grace almost ruined everything.”
Victor’s voice dropped.
“When?”
“The night she died.”
Victor stared at Serena.
She continued.
“I heard them arguing.”
“Adrian said somebody had called Grace and scared her into leaving the house.”
“Who?”
Serena shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
“But the answer may be on that drive.”
Victor finally picked it up.
Before leaving, Serena stopped at the doorway.
“Victor.”
He looked at her.
“I know saying I’m sorry means nothing.”
“It doesn’t mean nothing.”
Hope flickered across her face.
Victor finished.
“It just doesn’t erase consequences.”
She nodded.
Then walked away.
Victor inserted the drive.
A folder appeared.
May you like
Its name contained a date.
The date Grace died.
