Chapter 4: Forty-Five Minutes
“Stop the hearing,” Marcus said.
“I’m trying,” Elena replied through the speaker.
“The petition includes two medical affidavits and a video of you appearing disoriented.”
Vivienne reached for the phone.
“He needs rest, Elena.”
Marcus pulled it against his chest.
“Who signed the affidavits?”
“One is Dr.
Halpern.
The other name is unfamiliar—Dr.
Simon Reed.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Reed isn’t part of Marcus’s medical team.”
Vivienne lifted her chin.
“He evaluated Marcus privately.”
“When?” Marcus asked.
“After your fall in March.”
“I never met him.”
“You were heavily medicated.”
Claire’s arms tightened around Lily.
“That was the night you told everyone Mr.
Hartwell had a fever.”
Vivienne looked at her.
“Be careful.”
“Is that a warning?” Marcus asked.
“It is advice.
Claire has already been caught taking household property.”
Claire went white.
“That isn’t true.”
Vivienne took a small velvet bracelet case from her pocket and placed it on the table.
“My mother’s bracelet was found in Claire’s room.”
Claire stared at it.
“I have never seen that box.”
“You searched her room?” Marcus asked.
“I asked security to investigate.”
Lily began to cry.
“Mama didn’t take it.”
Claire kissed her hair.
“I know, sweetheart.”
Marcus called the head of security.
“Owen, come to the rehabilitation room.
Bring the hallway recordings from this morning.”
Vivienne laughed once.
“There are no recordings.
The cameras were being serviced.”
Elena’s voice sharpened through the phone.
“Marcus, listen to me.
Adrian has called an emergency board meeting too.
If the court grants temporary guardianship, the board can suspend your voting authority.”
“Can I address the judge remotely?”
“I can request it, but we need evidence now.”
Daniel opened his folder.
“Use my notes.”
“They’ll say you’re a paid employee,” Vivienne said.
Daniel faced her.
“Then I’ll tell the judge you offered me six months’ salary to alter them.”
Marcus looked up.
“She did what?”
“She called me three months ago.
I refused.”
“You never told me.”
“You had just ended treatment, and she said you would deny it.”
Vivienne’s smile thinned.
“Can you prove that conversation happened?”
Daniel unlocked his phone.
“No.
But I can prove you sent the false email ordering the clinic to remove his notes.”
He showed Elena the message header through the camera.
The sender appeared to be Marcus, but the recovery address belonged to Vivienne.
“Send that to me,” Elena said.
“Now.”
Owen appeared in the doorway, carrying a tablet.
Vivienne pointed at Claire.
“Remove her from the property.”
Owen did not move.
“That was an order,” she said.
“You aren’t my employer,” he replied.
“Mr.
Hartwell is.”
Marcus looked at the screen.
“Do you have the recording?”
“Not from the hallway.
Mrs.
Shaw disabled that camera at 6:12 this morning.”
“I am not Mrs.
Shaw,” Vivienne snapped.
Owen set the tablet before Marcus.
“The linen cupboard camera was still active.”
The recording showed Vivienne enter with the blue box.
Eight minutes later, Adrian Vale appeared through the servants’ entrance.
He removed a red-ribboned document and slipped it into his briefcase.
Claire covered her mouth.
“Send it to Elena,” Marcus said.
Vivienne’s phone rang.
She glanced at the name and answered before anyone could stop her.
“Yes?”
Adrian’s voice came clearly through the quiet room.
“The board voted.
I’m interim chief executive, effective immediately.”
Vivienne turned away, but Marcus heard every word.
“And the judge?” she whispered.
“Granted temporary control pending the full hearing.
Hartwell is locked out.”
Marcus tried to straighten in his chair.
His arms shook beneath him.
Vivienne ended the call and placed his company access card on the table.
May you like
“You wanted a fight,” she said.
“Now you don’t even have an office to fight from.”
