Chapter 12 - THE FALSE ETHAN
Luke disconnected the hotel server from the external network.
The deletion stopped.
More than four hundred files had already vanished.
Natalie confirmed that the login came from Mercer Tower.
The user had passed Ethan’s fingerprint authentication.
“That is impossible,” Ethan said.
“No,” Claire replied.
“Your mother had access to everything else.”
Ethan remembered a biometric update arranged by Vivian’s assistant two weeks earlier.
A technician had scanned his fingerprints in the executive office.
The technician’s company did not exist.
Detective Ortiz requested an immediate search of Mercer Tower.
Federal agents were also moving to freeze the hotel sale.
The board meeting began before they arrived.
Vivian sat at the head of the table.
She wore a pearl-gray suit and no handcuffs.
Her attorneys surrounded her.
Richard Mercer appeared by encrypted video from Geneva.
Vivian addressed the board with controlled sadness.
She claimed Ethan had suffered an emotional breakdown.
She presented the bridal-suite incident as evidence of instability.
According to her version, Ethan had assaulted Claire after discovering Claire had attacked his mother.
Claire watched the live meeting from the elevator.
“She is turning your violence into proof against you.”
Ethan did not look away.
“She does not have to invent that part.”
When the elevator opened, security guards blocked the corridor.
Vivian had revoked Ethan’s building access.
Claire presented the investigative-authority document.
The guards hesitated.
Natalie contacted the building’s independent compliance department.
The doors were finally opened.
Claire entered the boardroom first.
Every head turned toward her.
The bruise on her face was visible beneath the bright lights.
Vivian paused.
“Miss Whitman should not be here.”
Claire placed the trust document on the table.
“Thomas Mercer gave me temporary investigative authority.”
Richard’s image froze for half a second.
Then he disappeared from the screen.
Luke whispered to federal agents through his phone.
“Richard is running.”
Vivian continued as though nothing had happened.
“The document is invalid.”
“The court can decide that.”
Claire placed copies of the restored bridal-suite footage before each board member.
“The company should decide whether it wants a chairwoman who staged an assault, sabotaged surveillance, stole foundation money, and attempted to destroy four hotels.”
Murmurs spread around the table.
Vivian looked toward Ethan.
“Tell them she is lying.”
Everyone waited.
For most of his life, Ethan had obeyed that tone.
This time, he walked to the center of the room.
“My mother is not lying about one thing.”
Claire’s stomach tightened.
Ethan turned toward the board.
“I struck Claire.”
No one moved.
“I did it because I believed an accusation without allowing her to speak.”
“I am resigning as chief executive immediately.”
Vivian stood.
“Sit down.”
Ethan removed his company identification card.
He placed it on the table.
“You no longer give me orders.”
A board member opened the restored-footage file.
Vivian’s recorded voice filled the room.
Once Ethan sees me on the floor, he will finish this for me.
The boardroom doors opened.
Federal agents entered.
Vivian did not look frightened.
May you like
She looked toward the far window.
Across the street, smoke began rising from the Mercer records warehouse.
