Chapter 2 - SHADOWS IN THE BOARDROOM
By 6:00 AM the following morning, the front page of the Wall Street Journal and The Seattle Times bore the same headline: TECH ENTERPRENEUR ARRESTED AT WEDDING FOR MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR DIAMOND THEFT.
Social media was ablaze. Video clips recorded by the terrified dinner guests had gone viral, showing Ethan Vance being led away in handcuffs while Naomi stood poised and unbothered with salad dressing on her shoulder. The internet was hailing Naomi as a cold-blooded queen of composure, but inside the headquarters of Carter Global Logistics, the atmosphere was anything but celebratory.
Naomi arrived at the glass skyscraper in downtown Seattle wearing a tailored navy suit. She walked alongside her father into the emergency board meeting. As they entered the executive room on the 40th floor, the tension was palpable.
Seated at the head of the conference table was Julian Vance—Ethan’s uncle and the minority shareholder of Carter Global. Julian was a hawk-faced man in his late fifties with silver hair and eyes as cold as slate. Beside him sat Marcus Thorne, a handsome, enigmatic corporate restructuring expert whom the board had hired three months prior.
"Richard, Naomi," Julian began, his voice dripping with false empathy. "What a circus last night was. While I condemn Ethan’s utterly despicable behavior—he is a embarrassment to the Vance name—this scandal is causing our stock to plunge six percent in pre-market trading."
"Our stock is fluctuating because Ethan leaked false rumors of our financial instability before his arrest," Richard replied sternly, taking his seat. "The theft of the Carter Diamond is an isolated criminal matter."
"Is it?" Marcus Thorne spoke up, his deep, smooth voice cutting through the room. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the polished wood. Marcus had sharp features, dark amber eyes, and an aura of supreme control. "Miss Carter, with all due respect, your ex-husband accessed a vault that housed not just family heirlooms, but the primary encryption keys for Carter Global’s international shipping manifests. If Ethan had access, our clients are asking: who else does?"
Naomi locked eyes with Marcus. There was something intensely calculating about him. "Mr. Thorne, Ethan obtained those codes through an insider. That means someone sitting in this company—or perhaps in this room—handed him the keys."
Julian sneered. "Are you accusing the board, Naomi? You were married to the thief! For all we know, you slipped him those security protocols during your marriage!"
"Watch your tone, Julian," Richard warned, slamming a hand on the table.
"I have nothing to hide," Naomi said, remaining completely impassive. "I will personally oversee the internal audit alongside our cybersecurity team. And until we find the mole, all major capital expenditures and board motions are frozen."
Marcus Thorne watched Naomi closely, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his lips. "A bold strategy, Miss Carter. But freezing operations when Vanguard Holdings is attempting a hostile takeover might be fatal for your family."
Naomi froze. Vanguard Holdings. That was the mysterious conglomerate that had been quietly buying up floating shares of Carter Global over the past six months.
After the heated meeting adjourned, Naomi walked back to her corner office. As she reviewed the security logs from the night of the vault breach, a soft knock sounded at her door. It was Marcus Thorne.
"May I come in?" he asked, holding two cups of coffee.
"If you're here to convince me to lift the operational freeze, don't waste your breath, Mr. Thorne," Naomi said without looking up from her screen.
Marcus walked in, setting a cup on her desk. "Actually, I’m here to tell you that you were right."
Naomi looked up, suspicious. "About what?"
"Ethan didn't act alone, and Julian Vance is currently orchestrating a vote of no confidence against your father," Marcus said quietly, leaning against the edge of her desk. "Your ex-husband’s arrest wasn't a blunder, Naomi. It was a sacrificed pawn. Someone wanted Ethan caught so that the scandal would tank Carter Global’s stock, allowing Vanguard Holdings to buy the remaining shares at a discount."
Naomi studied Marcus’s composure. "And why are you telling me this? You were hired by Julian’s committee."
Marcus stepped closer, his eyes holding hers with intense focus. "Because I don't work for Julian Vance. And I certainly don't like seeing brilliant women played for fools by bitter men."
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Before Naomi could process his words, her private phone rang. It was the lead prosecutor handling Ethan’s case.
"Miss Carter," the prosecutor’s voice came through the speaker. "You need to come down to the detention facility immediately. Ethan Vance wants to make a deal—and he says he will only talk to you."
