Chapter 8 - THE COUNTERSTRIKE
While peace bloomed at Ashford Hall, a storm was brewing in Baltimore. Vivian’s defense team, bankrolled by her wealthy family, launched a massive PR counterstrike. They leaked fabricated stories to tabloids, claiming Ethan had coerced his staff into lying to break the prenuptial agreement.
The board of Caldwell Harbor Hotels grew nervous. They requested an emergency meeting.
“They want you to step down as CEO temporarily,” Rachel told Ethan, tossing a thick legal binder onto his desk. “Until the trial is over. Vivian’s lawyers are threatening to depose the entire board, claiming they were complicit in framing her.”
Ethan leaned back in his leather chair, his eyes narrowing. “Let them try.”
“Ethan, this is serious. They have bought off Arthur Pendelton, the bank manager who helped Vivian funnel the charity money. He’s claiming he acted alone and that Vivian’s name on the accounts was a clerical error.”
“Arthur is lying to save his own skin,” Ethan stated flatly.
“We know that. But without him flipping, the embezzlement charge becomes a he-said, she-said, relying entirely on that one fuzzy audio tape. Vivian might actually walk away with a light sentence.”
Ethan stood up, pacing the length of the study. He refused to let Vivian Sterling win. He refused to let her cast a shadow over his legacy, or over Nora’s newfound safety.
“Marcus!” Ethan shouted toward the open door.
The burly security chief jogged in. “Yes, boss?”
“Did you finish the forensic audit on Vivian’s personal electronics? The ones she left behind in the bridal suite when she was arrested?”
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Marcus grinned, pulling a small silver flash drive from his pocket. “Just finished this morning, sir. She thought she deleted her encrypted messages. She didn’t realize cloud backups store ghost files for ninety days.”
Ethan took the drive, a predatory smile touching his lips. “Rachel, call the board. Tell them I’m not stepping down. Tell them to convene tomorrow at 9 AM, and invite the press. We’re going to end this.”
