Chapter 27 - The Price of Meridian
Financial investigators reconstructed Meridian’s earliest accounts.
Margaret’s investment had not been the company’s only source of money.
Millions had entered through a private technology fund controlled by Eleanor Thompson and Helena Ward.
Victoria had never known her mother possessed that kind of wealth.
Eleanor had always claimed to work as a university researcher.
In reality, she had developed government security systems with Helena.
Meridian’s first product had been based partly on their unfinished work.
Victoria had built the company.
But the foundation beneath it belonged to secrets her mother never revealed.
Margaret explained that Eleanor feared Helena intended to sell the technology to foreign buyers. Eleanor transferred control to Victoria because she believed her daughter would use it responsibly.
Helena discovered the transfer and threatened legal action.
Then both women disappeared.
“Why did you remove Helena from the company records?” Victoria asked.
“To protect Meridian.”
“You protected your investment.”
Margaret did not deny it.
Daniel discovered that the recent false documents had been created through the hidden access channel Helena designed.
That meant Helena was alive—or someone possessed her original system key.
Grant and Julian had not controlled the person behind the attack.
They had been following instructions.
Police arrested Julian on fraud and conspiracy charges. Grant was detained after attempting to destroy financial records.
The employee files were recovered before more private information could be released.
The immediate threat ended.
Yet the hidden channel remained active.
At midnight, every screen inside Meridian turned black.
May you like
A message appeared.
Victoria, your mother chose the wrong daughter.
