Part 2
I walked back in wearing a hotel robe over my soaked dress. A brief silence fell over the room, then Celeste laughed.
“At least it looks cozy.”
Vanessa stifled a smile. Adrian kissed me on the cheek in front of the cameras and hissed, “Go upstairs. You’ve done enough.”
Instead, I sat down next to him.
“Tell me about the contract,” I said in a cheerful tone.
He narrowed his eyes. “What about her?”
“Where will the first installment be deposited?”
Several executives glanced our way. Adrian’s lead lawyer, Martin Pike, stopped cutting his lobster.
Adrian quickly composed himself. “Into our company account, of course.”
“And the board of directors has approved it?”
“Evelyn,” he said more loudly this time, “this is why I keep you out of my business. You always mix everything up.”
And there it was: the rehearsed performance.
I lowered my eyes and feigned intimidation. Under the table, my phone was recording every word and automatically transmitting it to my lawyer, Naomi Shaw.
Adrian raised his glass again. “My wife has been going through a difficult time since the birth of our daughter. We’ve made sure to protect her privacy, but tomorrow, I will temporarily take control of her assets for her own protection.”
A murmur of understanding rippled through the room. Celeste squeezed my shoulder maternally, her nails digging into my robe.
“You should be grateful,” she whispered.
“The pressure is intense,” he declared. “Daniel has filed transfer orders, falsified psychiatric reports, and sent emails demanding your removal.” “We can freeze the accounts, but the board of directors’ vote begins at 11 a.m.”
“Activate the founding clause.”
Naomi remained silent. “Are you sure?”
My father had drafted the Vale Urban Group letter after surviving an embezzlement scheme by a business partner. It concerned a special Class F share, which he held in an irrevocable trust for me. If there was credible evidence of fraud by a director, the owner could suspend that director’s duties for 48 hours and appoint an independent auditor. Adrian knew I owned 41% of the company. He didn’t know that a single additional share could give him the upper hand.
“I’m sure,” I said.
I returned at 10:55 and saw Adrian signing documents at the main table. Martin and two directors were watching. A notary was notarizing the final page.
Adrian looked up. “Just in time. These papers will protect you.”
“From whom?”
“From yourself.”
Céleste handed me a pen. “Sign, darling. Don’t make a scene.”
I picked it up. Vanessa’s smile widened.
Then I deliberately dropped the pen.
As Martin bent down to pick it up, I caught sight of the title on the back: *Petition for Declaration of Legal Incapacity and Enduring Power of Attorney*.
I snapped a photo with my cell phone.
Adrian grabbed my wrist. “Stop that.”
The ballroom doors opened.
Naomi walked in, accompanied by two auditors, a bailiff, and the independent chairman of the company’s supervisory board.
Adrian let go of me.
Naomi smiled politely. “Please, go right ahead. We arrived just in time for the scam.”
And every camera in the room was still recording live.
