Chapter 17 - The Board Meeting
The boardroom went silent when Sophia walked in beside me.
Ingrid was already at the head of the table.
Lukas sat three seats away from her.
Peter's chair was empty.
A trust attorney named Miriam Cole presided over the special meeting.
Ingrid spoke first.
"This is a private corporate matter."
I answered in German.
"So was Sunday dinner, apparently."
Three directors looked at her.
Lukas lowered his eyes.
Miriam asked Sophia whether she consented to the company recognizing Lukas as the expected father.
"No."
Ingrid stiffened.
Sophia placed the paternity report on the table.
"He is not the father."
Murmurs broke out.
Then Jonas placed the Project Continuity memo beside it.
"And this corporation's controlling family attempted to use my unborn child to interfere with pending labor litigation."
That sentence changed the room.
Directors stopped looking at Sophia.
They looked at lawyers.
Nina distributed copies of the forged guardianship agreement and the threat file.
Elisa joined by video and described St. Brigid.
Ingrid remained still through all of it.
Then she smiled.
"You have documents. You do not have intent."
Detective Ruiz entered from the hallway.
"Actually, we may."
She placed Peter Voller's portable drive into an evidence bag on the table.
"Mr. Voller decided to cooperate this morning."
For the first time, Ingrid's face moved.
Ruiz continued.
"He provided audio files."
Ingrid stood.
"This meeting is over."
Miriam did not move.
"Sit down, Mrs. Vance."
Ruiz pressed play.
May you like
Ingrid's voice filled the boardroom.
"The baby does not need to be Lukas's. It only needs to be legally his long enough for the trust to vest."
