Chapter 9
Noah's Name
The boardroom applauded Elena for being brave.
That was how she knew they had been instructed to do it.
Adrian sat at the head of the table for the first time since waking, pale but upright. Elena sat to his right because Grant had publicly called her "a stabilizing presence" and privately looked annoyed when she accepted the chair.
Celeste presided from the far end in black silk.
"The recovery fund transfer is routine," Grant said. "Temporary liquidity while Adrian focuses on health."
Elena read the packet instead of his face.
People hid theft in sympathy because sympathy made readers careless. Hospital wings. Recovery funds. Philanthropic language. Line items that looked like flowers at a funeral.
She found the shell company on page twelve.
"This vendor has no operating history."
Grant paused. "Which vendor?"
"Harbor Elyse Medical Logistics."
Adrian's eyes shifted to her. Not surprised. Interested.
Elena kept reading. "Created eleven days after the explosion. Receives fifteen million from the recovery fund. No staff. No medical licensing. Registered agent-" She stopped.
The room waited.
Noah Vale.
Her brother's name sat there in twelve-point type, clean and impossible.
Celeste leaned back slightly.
Adrian saw that too.
"Elena?" Grant said gently. Too gently.
"My brother did not create this company."
"Then perhaps your family has more complicated finances than you disclosed."
Elena looked at him. "Say that like an accusation again."
Silence.
Adrian closed the packet. "Transfer blocked."
Celeste's voice stayed soft. "You do not have quorum."
"My wife does."
Every face turned.
Elena did not understand until Mara, standing by the wall, looked down at her tablet and went very still.
The forged medical proxy had not only made Elena useful.
It had given her temporary voting rights.