At first, Brendan tried to laugh it all off.
At first, Brendan tried to laugh it all off. Diane raised her glass again and pretended she was still in control, but I saw the first crack in her confidence when Brendan’s phone vibrated on the table.
Then Jessica’s phone rang. Then Diane’s. One after another, shrill, panicked alert tones filled the room. Brendan looked down first. His face changed instantly. « I’m going to be sick, » he whispered. Jessica snatched her phone, all the color draining from her cheeks. Diane stood up so fast her chair scraped the floor. Within minutes, all of the Morrison family’s company-related accounts were frozen. Their executive access was revoked. Their private offices were remotely locked. Their company cars were deactivated. Their outstanding bonuses, escrow payments, and board privileges were suspended pending an emergency investigation. Then Arthur walked in. He wasn’t alone.
Two members of corporate security stood behind him, followed by a woman from internal compliance holding a tablet. Arthur’s gaze shifted from my soaked clothes to the puddle beneath my chair, and his jaw tightened. « Mrs. Cassidy Vale, » he said formally, « Protocol 7 has been activated. » Brendan froze. Diane’s wine glass slipped from her hand and shattered. Jessica stared at me as if she’d seen a ghost. « Brendan breathed, » Brendan said. I slowly stood up, water still dripping from my sleeves. « No, » I said softly. Diane’s lips trembled. « Cassidy, dear, we didn’t know— » « That’s the whole point, » I interrupted. Arthur placed a document on the table.
