Chapter 4 - The Acquisition Nobody Was Supposed to Examine
Marcus cancelled the Monday vote at 2:14 a.m.
The reaction was immediate.
Directors called.
Investors demanded explanations.
Adrian finally returned Marcus’s call at 4:03.
“You cancelled the acquisition?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Where are you?”
“London.”
Marcus looked at the aviation report David’s security team had just delivered.
Adrian’s private jet had never left New York.
“Try again.”
Silence.
Adrian laughed weakly.
“Fine. Connecticut.”
“Why did you lie?”
“Because I’m meeting investors privately.”
“At four in the morning?”
Another silence.
Marcus continued:
“Isabella has been arrested.”
Adrian stopped breathing.
“For what?”
Interesting.
Not:
What happened?
“For attacking Khloe.”
“Is Khloe okay?”
Too late.
The correct question arrived after the useful one.
Marcus asked:
“Why did Isabella say my child couldn’t be born before Monday?”
Adrian disconnected.
Marcus stared at the phone.
By sunrise, Thorne Meridian’s internal audit team had begun examining Adrian’s acquisition.
Target company:
Helix Crown Technologies.
Price:
$4.2 billion.
Helix supposedly owned advanced medical-logistics software used across Europe.
On paper, it looked impressive.
In reality, its revenue was inflated.
Its customer contracts questionable.
And its largest shareholder was hidden behind a Cayman Islands vehicle.
The beneficial owner?
A company called Northstar Venture Group.
Northstar was controlled by Adrian.
Marcus stared at the documents.
“He wants Thorne Meridian to buy a company he secretly owns.”
Auditor Julia Chen nodded.
“At a massive premium.”
“How much would he make?”
“Potentially $1.1 billion.”
David whistled.
Marcus looked sick.
“And Monday?”
Julia displayed another clause.
Daniel Thorne’s trust contained an anti-self-dealing provision.
If Marcus’s biological child was born before completion of any major related-party transaction, the child’s proxy guardian gained immediate review rights over transactions affecting locked family shares.
Khloe could block the acquisition.
If the child was not yet born, the current trustees retained authority.
Victoria.
Adrian.
And Marcus.
Marcus would vote no once he knew.
But if something happened to Khloe—
Or the pregnancy—
The automatic review disappeared.
David whispered:
“They weren’t trying to kill Khloe necessarily.”
Marcus looked at him.
“They were trying to remove the baby.”
Neither man felt better.
Police searched Isabella’s apartment.
They found messages.
Most deleted.
Some recoverable.
Adrian:
She only needs to miss the window.
Isabella:
What if something goes wrong?
Adrian:
Nothing will. Mother says the floor cameras cycle offline during donor events.
Another:
After Monday we are free.
Then one line that made Marcus sit down.
Isabella:
And us?
Adrian:
After Monday I tell Marcus everything.
Marcus stared.
“Everything?”
Julia looked uncomfortable.
David understood first.
“Isabella and Adrian.”
The affair.
It had not been Marcus and Isabella.
Isabella had never been his lover.
She had been one of Khloe’s longtime friends.
A family guest.
A woman invited into their private life.
And secretly involved with Adrian.
Marcus thought about every dinner.
Every holiday.
Every time Isabella hugged Khloe.
Then another recovered message appeared.
Isabella:
I’m tired of pretending to be her friend.
Adrian:
A few more days.
Marcus closed the file.
“Find him.”
Police were already trying.
But Adrian had disappeared.
May you like
This time for real.
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