Chapter 8 - The Betrayal Inside the BoardroomThe next morning, Vivienne called an emergency board meeting.
Every major executive of Sinclair Holdings appeared.
The atmosphere was tense.
Vivienne stood at the head of the table.
"Someone has been stealing information."
Nobody spoke.
She looked at each person.
"The question isn't whether."
She placed a folder on the table.
"It's who."
One executive shifted.
Preston noticed.
Vivienne noticed too.
"Mr. Grant."
The CFO looked up.
"Yes?"
"You've worked for Sinclair Holdings for nineteen years."
"That's correct."
"How much did Marcus Vale pay you?"
His face turned white.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Vivienne pressed a button.
A recording played.
Grant's voice filled the room.
Marcus had paid him to access private trust documents.
Preston stared.
Grant stood.
"This is insane."
Security entered.
Grant looked toward the door.
Then he ran.
He didn't make it ten feet.
Security caught him.
Vivienne remained calm.
"Search his office."
Twenty minutes later, they found encrypted drives.
Emails.
Bank transfers.
Photographs.
And a file labeled:
HALE MARRIAGE.
Preston stared at it.
"Open it."
Vivienne hesitated.
Then she did.
Inside were detailed reports.
Their courtship.
Their wedding.
Their finances.
Even Vivienne's private conversations.
Someone had been watching them for years.
Preston whispered,
"They planned everything."
Vivienne nodded.
Then another document appeared.
A marriage amendment.
Preston's signature was forged.
The document would have transferred a portion of Vivienne's inheritance to him.
Preston stared.
"I never signed this."
Vivienne believed him.
"I know."
A lawyer examined it.
"Forgery."
"Can you trace it?"
"We can try."
Vivienne looked at Preston.
"What did Marcus tell you?"
"That he wanted the succession amendment."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
The lawyer interrupted.
"Ms. Sinclair."
"What?"
"You should see this."
He pointed at a clause.
Vivienne read it.
Her face changed.
"What?"
Preston looked over her shoulder.
The clause stated that if Vivienne died unexpectedly, temporary control of the trust would transfer to her surviving spouse.
Preston stared.
"That means..."
Vivienne nodded.
"If something happened to me, you would control everything."
He stepped back.
"That's why they chose me."
The room became silent.
Then Vivienne's phone rang.
A message appeared.
ONE WEEK.
TRANSFER CONTROL OR YOUR HUSBAND DIES.
Preston looked at her.
May you like
She looked back.
For the first time, neither of them knew what to say.
