Chapter 7 - The Eight-Billion-Dollar Motive
The reason appeared inside an old contract.
Marcus had signed it four years earlier.
The contract created a voting trust controlling twelve percent of Thorne Global.
If Marcus died, divorced, or became legally incapacitated before the birth of a recognized heir, temporary voting control would transfer to a five-member trustee board.
Two of those trustees were independent.
One had recently retired.
The final two were connected indirectly to Halcyon Capital.
Khloe stared at the document.
“So if our marriage collapsed before the baby was born…”
“Mercer could challenge control of the company.”
Marcus finished the sentence.
Samuel shook his head.
“All this for shares?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Not shares.”
He pulled another file from David’s tablet.
“A vote.”
The board was scheduled to approve the Atlas Meridian acquisition in eleven days.
The acquisition would give Thorne Global controlling rights to one of the largest battery-storage networks in North America.
Halcyon Capital wanted the same assets.
If Mercer disrupted Marcus’s voting position before the board meeting, he could delay or destroy the transaction.
Khloe understood.
“Isabella was never the real plan.”
Marcus nodded.
“She was the weapon.”
Samuel looked disturbed.
“And she knew?”
“That’s the question.”
David entered carrying a printed email.
“We decrypted part of Pike’s file.”
Marcus took it.
The email had been sent from Isabella to a private account.
It read:
HE STILL WON’T TOUCH ME.
THE WIFE IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN EXPECTED.
WE NEED A STRONGER EVENT.
Khloe read the lines.
Marcus kept scrolling.
Another message appeared.
JULIAN SAYS PUBLIC HUMILIATION ISN’T ENOUGH.
IF SHE THINKS MARCUS CHOSE ME, SHE MAY LEAVE HIM.
Khloe’s hands went cold.
Then another.
THE CHILD MAKES HER STAY.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT.
Samuel took the paper from Marcus.
His face lost color.
“Change that?”
Marcus’s voice became deadly quiet.
“Detective Mills needs this now.”
David nodded.
“There’s a problem.”
“What?”
“The messages don’t prove physical intent.”
Khloe looked at him.
“Then last night does.”
“Yes.”
“But?”
David hesitated.
“There’s a later message.”
He turned the page.
It had been sent three days before the gala.
I’LL HANDLE KHLOE.
YOU HANDLE THE BOARD.
Marcus read it twice.
The sender was Isabella.
The recipient was Julian Mercer.
Samuel looked toward Khloe.
“This is conspiracy.”
“Potentially.”
David answered carefully.
“If we can authenticate the account and establish what ‘handle’ means.”
Marcus stared at the sentence.
His anger was becoming something colder.
Khloe recognized the change.
She reached for his wrist.
“Don’t.”
He looked at her.
“Don’t what?”
“Become the man they want you to become.”
Marcus said nothing.
“They want you furious.”
Khloe continued.
“They want you reckless.”
“They attacked you.”
“I know.”
“They endangered our child.”
“I know.”
Marcus leaned closer.
“And you expect me to stay calm?”
“I expect you to be smarter than them.”
That stopped him.
Khloe’s eyes were steady.
“If this is about control of your company, then protect it.”
She pointed toward the evidence.
“If this is about Isabella, prosecute her.”
Then she placed her hand over her stomach.
“And if this is about our family…”
Her voice softened.
“…then stop letting other people decide what our marriage becomes.”
Marcus held her gaze.
For the first time since the attack, something shifted between them.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But partnership.
David’s phone rang.
He answered.
His expression sharpened.
“Where?”
Marcus watched him.
David ended the call.
“What happened?”
“Police found Owen Pike.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
May you like
David did not look relieved.
“He’s been shot.”
