Chapter 2 - THE BRIEFCASE THAT COULD DESTROY AN EMPIRE
Liam Vance did not move.
The briefcase lay between his polished shoes, one corner pressed against the marble floor. Behind him, the elevator doors began closing. Marcus lifted his hand, and the building's security director immediately held them open.
“Open it,” Marcus repeated.
Liam recovered enough to smile.
“Marcus, whatever Mother told you, she's confused. We can discuss this privately.”
“Our mother is standing ten feet away. You can explain it to her.”
Camille took a tentative step toward the podium.
“Darling, the investors are waiting.”
Marcus didn't even turn.
“The investors can leave.”
The room erupted into murmurs.
An eighty-million-dollar transaction had been scheduled for completion that evening. Representatives from three financial institutions were present. So were members of the company's board, legal advisers, and a delegation connected to a defense procurement review.
But Marcus seemed to have forgotten every one of them.
He looked only at his brother.
Liam bent down and picked up the briefcase.
“I don't have to open private corporate documents in front of fifty people.”
“No,” Marcus said. “You don't.”
For a moment, Liam appeared relieved.
Then Marcus continued.
“But the signing is suspended. Effective immediately.”
Camille made a strangled sound.
“You can't do that!”
Marcus turned toward her.
“Watch me.”
He instructed his general counsel, Elena Brooks, to preserve every document connected to the proposed transaction and notify the banks that authorization was disputed.
Elena was already typing.
Liam's expression hardened.
“You're making a catastrophic mistake.”
“Maybe,” Marcus said. “But it won't be the first mistake I've made concerning this family.”
His eyes moved toward Margaret.
She sat very still, her fingers gripping my sleeve.
I could feel her trembling.
“Mrs. Vance,” I whispered, “I'm going to check your breathing.”
She nodded.
Her respiratory rate was elevated, and her hands were cold. The coughing she had endured for days had become worse that afternoon.
I wanted her out of that ballroom.
I wanted a medical assessment.
And I wanted the people who had frightened her to stop speaking as though she wasn't present.
“Mr. Vance,” I said, “your mother needs to be evaluated somewhere quiet. Given the possible exhaust exposure, I'd like an urgent medical assessment.”
Marcus looked at me immediately.
“Arrange it.”
“I'm calling emergency medical services.”
“Whatever she needs.”
Camille scoffed.
“An ambulance? For a little coughing?”
Marcus turned slowly.
“Do not speak about my mother again tonight.”
Camille's lips parted.
For once, nothing came out.
Twenty minutes later, paramedics arrived.
I accompanied Margaret to the hospital with her consent. Marcus followed in another vehicle.
During the ride, Margaret kept touching the medals sewn into the trench coat's lining.
“My husband would be ashamed,” she whispered.
“Of you?”
“Of what our sons have become.”
I took her hand.
“Mrs. Vance, one of your sons is trying to protect you.”
She shook her head.
“Marcus thinks money can fix everything. Liam thinks money excuses everything.”
She turned her blind eyes toward me.
“Neither one remembers what their father built.”
I assumed she meant the robotics company.
I was wrong.
At the hospital, Margaret underwent medical evaluation for possible exposure to vehicle exhaust and other environmental hazards. Her oxygen levels were monitored, and clinicians ordered appropriate tests.
While we waited, Marcus arrived.
He had removed his tuxedo jacket. His white shirt sleeves were rolled to his elbows.
He looked less like a billionaire and more like a frightened son.
“How is she?”
“Stable at the moment. The doctors are still assessing her.”
He nodded.
Then looked at me.
“Maya, I owe you an apology.”
I blinked.
“For what?”
“For not knowing where my mother was sleeping.”
“That wasn't your decision.”
“It was my responsibility to know.”
I couldn't argue with that.
He lowered his voice.
“And for allowing Camille to threaten your sister.”
My stomach tightened.
“Mr. Vance—”
“Has anyone contacted her clinic?”
“Not that I know of.”
“I've instructed the foundation's independent administrator to preserve her existing assistance while everything is reviewed. Camille has no authority to terminate it.”
Relief hit me so suddenly that I had to sit down.
Marcus watched me carefully.
“Is your sister all right?”
I nodded.
“For now.”
He pulled a chair beside mine.
“What is her name?”
“Lucia.”
“How old?”
“Nineteen.”
He looked toward the examination room.
“My mother told me you were the only person who listened to her this week.”
I swallowed.
“She was scared.”
Marcus nodded.
“So were you.”
I didn't answer.
Because that was the truth I had been trying hardest to hide.
Near midnight, Elena called Marcus.
He listened without speaking.
Then his face changed.
“What do you mean the charter was amended?”
He stood.
“Send it to me.”
A minute later, his phone displayed a scanned document.
I saw the words across the top.
VANCE MEDICAL ACCESS FOUNDATION — IRREVOCABLE TRUST AMENDMENT.
Below them was Margaret's name.
And beside it, a fingerprint.
Marcus stared at the screen.
Then whispered something that made my blood run cold.
“They didn't just try to sell the patents.”
May you like
He looked toward his mother's room.
“They tried to remove her as trustee.”
