Chapter 7 - The Boardroom Trap
Friday morning arrived beneath a sky the color of steel.
Blackwood International’s board gathered on the forty-second floor of the company’s headquarters. Twelve directors sat around a black glass table while attorneys, auditors, and security officers waited along the walls.
Andrew occupied the chairman’s seat.
Brenda sat beside him.
Mariana entered alone.
Every conversation stopped.
She wore a simple white suit and carried no documents.
Andrew had expected resistance. He had prepared for anger, accusations, and perhaps a public refusal to participate.
Her calm unsettled him.
“Thank you for coming,” he said.
“It is my company too.”
One director cleared his throat.
“Technically, Mrs. Blackwood, today’s meeting concerns whether your position should be temporarily suspended.”
“On what basis?”
Brenda activated the screen behind the table.
A video from the winter benefit began playing.
Mariana appeared unsteady. Her speech was slowed. She accused unidentified executives of stealing and attempted to leave the stage before Andrew guided her away.
The recording looked damaging.
It was designed to.
Brenda spoke in a measured voice.
“Several additional incidents have caused concern. Mrs. Blackwood has made unsupported allegations against employees, interfered with banking procedures, and entered restricted company property.”
Mariana glanced at her.
“Which property?”
“The river warehouse.”
Andrew’s head turned sharply toward Brenda.
He had not known she was aware of Mariana’s visit.
Brenda continued.
“Northgate Protection documented the intrusion.”
“Then show the documentation,” Mariana said.
Brenda pressed the control.
Nothing happened.
The screen went black.
A different video appeared.
It showed Brenda inside the hidden carriage house opening the cabinet of false passports.
Her recorded voice filled the boardroom.
She found the tunnel.
Then the distorted response.
She must remain alive until she authorizes the transfer.
Brenda stood.
“That recording is fabricated.”
Sofia Chen entered through the rear doors with two independent forensic specialists.
“It is authentic,” Sofia said. “The device that captured it was registered to Northgate Protection.”
Brenda looked at Andrew.
“You said you destroyed the surveillance.”
Andrew slowly rose.
“I did not install it.”
The directors began talking at once.
Mariana lifted a hand.
Silence returned.
“The video from the winter benefit was also authentic,” she said. “What happened in it was not.”
Sofia distributed laboratory reports.
“The water served to Mrs. Blackwood contained a sedative,” she explained. “The staffing employee who served it has provided a sworn statement. He was paid through a consultancy controlled by Brenda Sinclair.”
Brenda’s face remained composed, but her breathing quickened.
The board’s legal adviser read the report.
“Where is the employee?”
“Under protection.”
Andrew stared at Mariana.
“You found him.”
“I found everyone.”
Mariana placed a biometric drive on the table.
“For five years, funds have been transferred from Blackwood International into shell entities connected to the Aurelian Circle. Some transfers were authorized by Brenda. Others were authorized by Andrew.”
Every face turned toward him.
Andrew did not deny it.
Brenda stepped away from her chair.
“He was working with me.”
“No,” Andrew said. “I was tracking you.”
“You signed every transfer.”
“To accounts Mariana controlled.”
Mariana looked at Sofia.
Sofia shook her head.
“We controlled nine. Two belonged to unknown holders.”
Andrew appeared confused.
“There were only ten destination accounts.”
“There were eleven,” Mariana said.
Brenda moved toward the exit.
Security officers blocked the doors.
“You cannot detain me,” she said.
“No one is detaining you,” Mariana replied. “The financial crimes investigators waiting downstairs may choose differently.”
Brenda’s confidence finally broke.
“You do not understand what you have done.”
“I understand enough.”
“No, you understand what Marcus wanted you to see.”
Mariana watched her carefully.
“Where is my mother?”
Brenda smiled.
It was not triumphant this time.
It was cruel.
“You still believe Elena is your mother?”
The room seemed to narrow around Mariana.
“What does that mean?”
Brenda looked toward the ceiling camera.
“You should ask Samuel why he changed the hospital records.”
Andrew stepped toward her.
“Stop talking.”
“Why? You wanted the truth exposed.”
“Not this way.”
Brenda laughed softly.
“You really thought she would forgive you?”
Mariana faced Andrew.
“What records?”
Before he answered, the boardroom lights flickered.
Every phone on the table vibrated simultaneously.
A legal notice appeared.
VALE MERIDIAN HOLDINGS HAS BEEN PLACED UNDER EMERGENCY FOUNDER CONTROL.
AUTHORIZED CONTROLLER: MARCUS VALE.
Andrew whispered, “He made the transfer.”
Sofia checked her tablet.
“All Meridian accounts are locking us out.”
“Reverse it,” Mariana said.
“I cannot.”
“Use my biometric authority.”
“It has been suspended by founder claim.”
Brenda’s smile returned.
“This meeting was the trap,” she said. “Not for Mariana.”
She looked directly at the ceiling camera.
“It was for you, Andrew.”
The glass doors opened.
Samuel Hale entered with four federal officers.
Andrew exhaled in relief.
Mariana did not.
Samuel’s gaze passed over everyone and settled on her.
“I am sorry,” he said.
May you like
Then he turned to the officers.
“Arrest Andrew Blackwood.”
