Chapter 21
The Boardroom Witness
Victor called an emergency board meeting before Mara and Adrian could reach Celia.
He invited Mara as if she were a witness and seated her beneath the company seal.
“You have no voting authority,” Victor said.
“I have one hundred billion reasons to listen.”
Adrian sat beside her. His presence alone changed the balance of the room.
Victor displayed a chart showing Quinn Meridian’s loans.
“Your father borrowed beyond the company’s capacity.”
“Then why were the lenders paid to delay collection?”
Victor’s smile vanished.
Daniel placed the transfer records on the screen.
Northbridge appeared beside every creditor.
One director shifted in his chair.
Mara noticed.
“You know the name.”
He looked at Victor.
“I know a custodial service.”
“You know a dead director.”
“I know many directors.”
Adrian leaned forward.
“State whether you authorized Northbridge transfers.”
The director refused.
Victor ended the meeting.
Mara stood.
“You cannot dismiss the room because the answer is inconvenient.”
“This is my board.”
“Then why did you invite me?”
Victor looked at her.
“Because your father left one witness alive.”
The side door opened.
A former Quinn Meridian accountant entered under security escort.
Mara knew him.
Mr. Hale had signed her father’s final audit.
He had vanished the day before the bankruptcy.
“Tell her,” Victor said.
The accountant stared at Mara.
“Your father signed the first transfer.”
“The signature was forged.”
“Not the first one.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
The accountant handed Mara a sealed envelope.
“He told me to give this to you if the Yan boy ever bought the debt.”
Mara broke the seal.
Inside was a single key and a note in her father’s handwriting.
Do not let Adrian Mercer open the third door.