Ethan was in bed at 4:15 AM. Sarah knew because she had seen his light go out at midnight from her window. Veronica, however, had been staying on the yacht while her townhouse was being renovated.
Sarah grabbed the papers. She had the courier receipt proving Veronica sent data to Omnicorp. She had the location data proving the bank transfer came from the yacht. It was circumstantial, but it was enough to create doubt.
She looked at her watch. 1:15 PM. The vote started in 45 minutes.
“J.R., I need a ride!” Sarah said, running up the stairs.
“To where?”
“Sterling Tower. And drive fast.”
The boardroom of Sterling Industries was a glass box in the sky. Twelve men and women in suits sat around a mahogany table. Ethan sat at the head, looking like a man who hadn’t slept in a week. His face was grey. Veronica sat to his right, radiant in a white power suit.
“The breach of security by Mr. Sterling’s former assistant has compromised the Omnicorp merger,” Veronica said smoothly. “Omnicorp has pulled out because our internal data is no longer secure. The stock has dropped 12% this morning.”
The board members murmured anxiously.
“This shows a lack of judgment on the CEO’s part,” Veronica continued, placing a hand on the table. “Ethan is brilliant, but he is emotionally compromised. He let a con artist into our inner circle. We need stability. We need leadership that isn’t distracted by… charity cases.” She looked at Ethan. “I move for a vote of no confidence in Ethan Sterling as CEO, and I put myself forward as interim chairwoman to salvage the company.”
“Seconded,” said Mr. Coburn, the man Sarah had embarrassed at the gala.
“Ethan,” the lead director asked, “do you have anything to say?”
Ethan looked up. He looked defeated. He had lost the woman he trusted. And now he was losing his life’s work.
“I… I take full responsibility,” he rasped.
“Very well,” the director said. “All in favor of removing Ethan Sterling?”
Hands started to go up. One, two, three. Veronica raised hers high, a triumphant smile on her lips.
Bang!
The double doors to the boardroom flew open.
“I object!” Sarah yelled, bursting into the room.
Her hair was frizzy from the rain. Her clothes were rumpled, and she was out of breath. Two security guards were chasing her.
“Get her out!” Veronica shrieked, standing up. “She’s a criminal!”
“I’m not the criminal!” Sarah shouted, dodging a guard. She threw the stack of papers onto the mahogany table. They slid across the polished surface and stopped right in front of Ethan.
“Sarah?” Ethan stood up, confused. “What are you doing?”
“Look at the papers, Ethan!” Sarah pleaded, ignoring the guard gripping her arm. “The courier receipt. Veronica sent the hard drive to Omnicorp two weeks ago. She didn’t use the network last night. She used a physical courier, so it wouldn’t be flagged by IT.”
Ethan looked down. He saw the receipt. Sender: V. Vance.
“And the wire transfer!” Sarah yelled, as the guard started to drag her backward. “The money sent to my account, authorized at 4:15 AM. Look at the IP location. It came from the Sea Star. The yacht. Who is sleeping on the yacht, Ethan? You were in the mansion. I was in the guest wing.”
Ethan froze. The realization hit him like a physical blow. He looked at the papers. He looked at the timestamp.
“Wait,” Ethan commanded the guards. His voice was the voice of the Ice King again. “Let her go.”..
