Chapter 6 - The Viper in the Boardroom
Marcus answered the phone, placing it on speaker so Sarah could hear.
"Marcus," Richard Sterling’s smooth, cultured voice echoed through the speaker. "Where are you? The board meeting for the Meridian Acquisition was supposed to start twenty minutes ago. The investors are getting restless."
Marcus looked at Sarah, holding his breath for a brief second to master his emotion. When he spoke, his voice was smooth, cool, and completely unreadable.
"I had a minor personal matter to attend to, Richard," Marcus said softly. "Reschedule the investors for tomorrow morning at nine."
A pause sounded over the line. "A personal matter? Marcus, you haven't missed an investor meeting in six years. Is everything alright? You sound... distant."
"Everything is clearer than it has ever been, Richard," Marcus replied calmly. "In fact, I've just uncovered a missing record from eight years ago. A file regarding my hospital intake after the crash."
The silence on the line was instant and heavy. Sarah watched as Marcus watched the audio equalizer bar on the phone jump.
"A hospital record?" Richard said, his voice dropping an octave, trying to sound casually interested. "Marcus, that was almost a decade ago. The doctors said looking back at that trauma only causes you unnecessary stress. You should let the past stay dead."
"Some things don't stay dead, Richard," Marcus said, every word weighted with icy subtext. "I'll see you in the boardroom tomorrow at nine sharp. Have the full financial audit of the Cayman holdings on my desk before the meeting starts."
Marcus hung up the phone without waiting for a reply.
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"He knows," Sarah whispered, her hands trembling. "Marcus, he knows you're looking into it. Is he dangerous?"
"He was dangerous when I was alone," Marcus said, walking over to Sarah and taking her into his arms, holding her close against his chest. "But now I have something worth fighting for. He will never hurt you or my children again."
