Chapter 11 - THE WAREHOUSE
Police obtained a warrant faster than Grant expected.
By the time investigators reached the warehouse, smoke was already pouring from one side of the building.
Grant had started burning records.
But fire crews arrived before the entire structure was destroyed.
Boxes survived.
Hard drives survived.
So did one locked filing cabinet.
Grant was arrested again.
This time the charges were no longer limited to what happened at my penthouse.
Financial investigators became involved.
So did federal authorities.
Ryan's flash drive contained spreadsheets.
Payments.
Target profiles.
Marriage timelines.
Asset valuations.
Six women.
Then twelve.
Then twenty-three.
The network had existed for nearly fourteen years.
Not every woman had married someone connected to Grant.
Some were business partners.
Some were investors.
Some were executives.
The method changed.
The goal remained the same.
Gain trust.
Create dependency.
Build leverage.
Extract value.
What sickened me most was the language.
TARGET STABILITY.
COMPLIANCE PROBABILITY.
FAMILY INTERFERENCE RISK.
They had turned human beings into financial models.
My name appeared more than anyone else's.
Why?
Because of my company.
Daniel found the answer in a document labeled CROWN.
Evelyn believed my future position could give her indirect control over board decisions, cybersecurity contracts, and acquisition strategy.
Ryan had not merely been sent to access my money.
He had been sent to influence my career.
I remembered arguments about jobs.
Ryan discouraging me from considering an offer in California.
Ryan convincing me not to resign after a conflict with Evelyn.
Ryan urging me to accept additional equity instead of cash compensation.
Each decision had benefited the plan.
I wanted to be angry.
But beneath anger was grief.
They had colonized my memories.
Every romantic gesture now came with a question.
Was this real?
Was that planned?
Had anything belonged only to us?
Mara found me staring through the penthouse window.
“You don't have to solve your entire life today.”
“I know.”
But I wanted to.
The doorbell rang.
Daniel checked the monitor.
Thomas Keller, my CEO, stood outside.
I hadn't told him anything.
Evelyn apparently had.
Thomas entered looking grim.
“Claire, we have a problem.”
I almost laughed.
“That seems to be happening a lot.”
He did not smile.
“The board received a complaint this morning.”
“Against me?”
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
“Misuse of company resources.”
I stared.
“From whom?”
“Anonymous.”
Of course.
Thomas continued.
“It alleges you used confidential marketing databases for personal financial activity.”
“That is false.”
“I believe you.”
“Does the board?”
“Some do.”
“And Evelyn?”
Thomas looked away.
“She recommended placing you on administrative leave.”
There it was.
The next move.
Destroy my credibility before the investigation reached her.
I folded my arms.
“What did the board decide?”
Thomas met my eyes.
“They're meeting tomorrow morning.”
My phone buzzed.
A news alert appeared.
DENVER TECH EXECUTIVE LINKED TO DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE AND FINANCIAL QUESTIONS.
My photograph filled the screen.
Someone had leaked the story.
May you like
And in the first paragraph, I was not described as a victim.
I was described as the subject of a family conflict.
