Chapter 9 - The Devil's WitnessAt 9:03, the Ellison board meeting began.
Victor Hale sat at the head of the table.
My father's chair was empty.
Mine was empty too.
They thought we were finished.
Victor looked calm.
Almost gentle.
“We need stability.”
One director nodded.
“Marcus is facing serious allegations.”
Victor folded his hands.
“We must act in the company's best interest.”
The screen behind him displayed a proposed transition plan.
Temporary leadership.
Asset protection.
Emergency restructuring.
I looked at the plan from another room.
Every line led to one conclusion.
Victor would control the company.
My father watched silently.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
DON'T TRUST ETHAN.
I looked up.
Ethan stood beside us.
My pulse quickened.
My father noticed.
“What is it?”
I showed him.
He didn't react immediately.
Instead he asked:
“Who sent it?”
“Unknown.”
Ethan saw our faces.
“What happened?”
I locked my phone.
“Nothing.”
He studied me.
Then the boardroom doors opened.
I walked in.
Every director turned.
Victor stood.
“Claire.”
I smiled.
“Hello, Victor.”
His expression remained calm.
But his eyes changed.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I've been told that a lot this week.”
I walked to the table.
Victor glanced at my father.
“Marcus, this is inappropriate.”
My father sat beside me.
“No.”
Victor's smile faded.
“It appears the board has already acted.”
My father placed a file down.
“So have we.”
Victor opened it.
His face changed.
Inside were offshore account records.
Wire transfers.
Private messages.
Corporate entities connecting him to Mercer insiders.
Victor closed the file.
“Fabricated.”
I nodded.
“That's what everyone says when the evidence arrives.”
Victor looked at the directors.
“This is exactly what I warned you about. The Ellison family is trying to destroy any independent oversight.”
I turned to the screen.
“Then let's talk about independence.”
A video began playing.
Vanessa appeared.
She was sitting in a dark room.
Someone had recorded her.
Her voice echoed through the room.
“Victor gave us the access credentials.”
The board went silent.
Vanessa continued.
“He told us exactly which files to steal.”
Victor stood.
“This is manipulated.”
The recording kept playing.
“He said Claire had to look guilty before Marcus could be forced out.”
Victor's voice appeared next.
“Adrian is disposable.”
Victor went pale.
The room erupted.
Directors shouted questions.
He slammed his hand against the table.
“This proves nothing.”
I turned toward him.
“Then why did you transfer six million dollars to Daniel Cross three days before the forged emails appeared?”
Victor stared at me.
“Where did you get that?”
I smiled.
“From your personal account.”
He took one step backward.
My father finally spoke.
“You spent twenty-eight years pretending to be my friend.”
Victor looked at him.
“And you spent twenty-eight years pretending you weren't going to destroy me.”
My father frowned.
“Why?”
Victor laughed.
“Because your family took everything.”
“What did we take?”
“My future.”
His expression twisted.
“You had the name. The money. The patents. The influence.”
He looked at me.
“And then she was born.”
I felt cold.
“What does my birth have to do with you?”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“Everything.”
He reached into his jacket.
Security moved.
But he wasn't holding a weapon.
He pulled out a photograph.
A hospital room.
My mother.
A newborn baby.
Victor stood beside her.
My father went completely still.
The room disappeared around me.
I stared at the photograph.
My mother was smiling.
But Victor wasn't looking at her.
He was looking at the baby.
At me.
Victor whispered:
“You were never supposed to inherit Ellison Holdings.”
I felt my heart pounding.
“Why?”
He smiled.
“Because your mother had another child.”
Silence.
I couldn't breathe.
My father stood.
“Victor.”
“Tell her.”
My father looked at me.
May you like
And in his eyes, I saw something I had never seen before.
Fear.
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