"And Alexander?"
"He can attend and explain himself."
Jonathan agreed.
After the call, Victoria sat quietly for several minutes.
She remembered the last conversation she had with Thomas Sterling before he died.
He had been in a hospital room, weak but still mentally sharp.
"Victoria," he had said, "people will always try to take what they didn't build."
She had smiled.
"That's business."
"No. That's human nature."
He had taken her hand.
"Never confuse being kind with being easy to defeat."
She had promised him she would protect the company.
Now, nearly ten years later, she intended to keep that promise.
CHAPTER 7: THE FILES THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE EXISTED
At 1:20 p.m., Emily entered Victoria's office carrying a laptop.
"I found something."
Victoria turned.
"What is it?"
"Three separate versions of the Northbridge financial report."
"Show me."
Emily opened the files.
The first report listed Northbridge's total liabilities at $42 million.
The second listed them at $86 million.
The third, which had been sent to the board, showed only $19 million.
Victoria studied the figures.
"Who prepared these?"
"The original report was prepared by Northbridge's accounting department. The second was modified by Sterling's acquisition team. The third was uploaded using Alexander's executive credentials."
Victoria leaned back.
"Are you certain?"
Emily nodded.
"I checked the document history and access logs."
"Can the records be independently verified?"
"Yes."
Victoria looked at the second file.
Several payments had been made to a consulting company called Reed Advisory Partners.
The name immediately caught her attention.
"Who owns this company?"
Emily searched.
"According to the corporate registry, Richard Reed."
Victoria slowly closed her eyes.
Alexander's father.
The man who had helped secure the investment that brought Alexander into Sterling Global.
She opened the third document.
A payment of $12.8 million had been recorded as a consulting expense.
But there was no evidence that any consulting services had been provided.
"Emily, contact our forensic accounting team."
"Already done."
"Good."
Emily hesitated.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"Someone from the legal department called me. They said Mr. Reed has been asking for the original acquisition agreement."
Victoria's expression hardened.
"Why?"
"He wants to change the closing date."
Victoria looked at the clock.
"Then he knows we're close to finding something."
Emily nodded.
Victoria picked up her phone.
"Call the chairman. Tell him the meeting needs to begin earlier."
CHAPTER 8: THE EXECUTIVE WHO THOUGHT HE WAS UNTOUCHABLE
At 2:00 p.m., Alexander entered the executive lounge.
He found three directors discussing the upcoming meeting.
"Good afternoon," he said.
They barely acknowledged him.
He poured himself a glass of water.
"Has anyone heard from Victoria?"
One director, Susan Miller, looked at him.
"She's preparing the board presentation."
Alexander forced a smile.
"Of course she is."
Susan studied his face.
"Are you all right?"
"Perfectly."
"I heard there was an incident."
"It was a misunderstanding."
"Then I'm sure the footage will clear everything up."
Alexander's hand tightened around the glass.
"People are making this bigger than it is."
Susan stood.
"Someone was injured, Alexander."
He looked at her sharply.
"She is not helpless."
"No one said she was."
"She knows exactly how to manipulate people."
Susan shook her head.
"You're making a mistake."
Alexander laughed.
"Everyone seems to be giving me advice today."
He left before she could answer.
In the elevator, he called his father again.
No answer.
He tried another number.
His attorney.