Chapter 7 - THE TRANSFER ORDER|
The nurse's words made Marcus turn sharply.
"Who authorized the transfer?"
"An order appeared in the system under Dr. Reed's credentials. It states that Mrs. Thorne needs specialized fetal surgery at another facility."
Dr. Reed, who had just returned from a consultation, looked furious.
"I did not authorize any transfer."
The hospital administrator checked the electronic record.
"The order was submitted remotely. It includes a signature that appears to be yours."
"Then it's forged."
Marcus stepped toward the door.
"Lock down the maternity floor. No patient leaves without direct confirmation from the attending physician and hospital administration. Contact the police."
Elena felt a wave of fear rise through her chest.
"Are they trying to take my baby?"
Dr. Reed took her hand.
"No one is taking you anywhere without my medical approval. Your condition is being managed here, and moving you without a clinical reason would be dangerous."
The nurse increased the monitoring frequency while the administrator contacted hospital security. The transfer order had been submitted from a terminal in the executive wing, using credentials stolen from Dr. Reed's account.
A hospital employee identified the person who had carried the paperwork to the maternity desk: a contractor hired by the private security company.
He had disappeared.
Marcus looked at the administrator.
"Who hired that company?"
"The contract was approved through Thorn Global's risk-management division."
"Under whose authority?"
The administrator hesitated.
"Julian Thorne's office."
Elena closed her eyes.
She was tired of every new discovery pointing back to her husband.
Marcus sat beside her.
"I know what you're thinking."
"Do you?"
"You're wondering whether Julian is protecting you or protecting himself."
Elena looked at him.
"I'm wondering whether he understands that those are not the same thing."
Marcus had no answer.
Police officers arrived and interviewed the hospital staff. The forged transfer was canceled, the maternity floor was secured, and Elena's patient records were placed under restricted access.
That afternoon, Julian appeared at the hospital entrance.
He did not try to enter Elena's room. Instead, he waited in the lobby and gave the officers his phone, laptop, and access codes.
When Marcus went downstairs, Julian looked exhausted.
"I didn't authorize the transfer."
"Your office approved the security contract."
"I know. I thought it was for corporate risk management. I didn't know the contractor was being used to access Elena's records."
"You keep saying you didn't know. How much of your life have you chosen not to examine?"
Julian flinched.
"I deserve that."
"You deserve a great deal more than words."
Julian handed him a sealed envelope.
"I found this in the company archive. It was attached to the original trust agreement."
Marcus opened it.
Inside was a letter from Eleanor, dated six months earlier.
If Elena Vance becomes pregnant, ensure that she remains under supervision until the child is born. The inheritance must not pass outside this family without my approval.
The letter contained no explanation, only instructions and a list of people authorized to act on them.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
IF THE CHILD IS A GIRL, THE TRUST REMAINS DORMANT. IF THE CHILD IS A BOY, ACTIVATE THE SUCCESSION PLAN.
Marcus read the line twice.
Elena was expecting a boy.
The trust had been designed to activate when Leo was born, but the reason was not yet clear.
Julian lowered his voice.
"My grandmother believes the baby is entitled to a controlling share of the foundation."
"That share belongs to the child," Marcus said. "It is not a weapon for the family to use."
"She thinks the child will make me impossible to remove from the company."
Marcus looked at his son.
"Remove you from what?"
Julian's eyes filled with dread.
"The chairmanship. The trust gives me control of the voting shares once Leo is born."
Marcus stared at the letter.
May you like
His mother had not simply been monitoring Elena.
She had been preparing to use an unborn child to decide who would control the Thorne empire.
