Chapter 3 - The Secret Benefactor
Morning sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse.
Hannah sat on the plush velvet sofa, staring at the stunning city skyline.
A cup of hot chamomile tea rested on the coffee table in front of her.
Her bandaged hand throbbed with a dull ache.
Ethan was pacing back and forth across the hardwood floor.
He had a sleek Bluetooth earpiece in his right ear.
He was deep in a heated conversation with his corporate lawyers.
"I don't care what the technicalities are," Ethan barked into the phone.
"I want her shares frozen immediately."
"She stole from this company, and we have the financial records to prove it."
He paused, listening intensely to the voice on the other end.
His jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed in frustration.
"What do you mean someone posted her bail?" Ethan demanded.
Hannah's heart skipped a beat.
Her breath caught in her throat.
She sat up straight, grabbing the edge of the sofa cushion.
Ethan ripped the earpiece out and threw it onto the table.
He ran his hands through his messy brown hair.
"She is out," Ethan said, his voice filled with disbelief.
Hannah felt a wave of nausea wash over her.
"How is that even possible?" Hannah asked, her voice trembling.
"You said the judge denied bail!"
"The judge did deny it," Ethan explained, sitting down heavily beside her.
"But someone hired a massive team of high-powered defense attorneys overnight."
"They woke up an appellate judge at three in the morning."
"They argued that Beatrice's health was failing in the holding cell."
"They posted a five-million-dollar cash bond."
Hannah stared at him in utter shock.
"Five million dollars in cash?" she repeated.
"Where would she get that kind of money overnight?"
"Her offshore accounts are frozen, right?"
Ethan nodded, rubbing his temples in frustration.
"The FBI locked down all her known assets at midnight."
"Which means she didn't pay for this herself."
"Someone else posted that bond."
"Someone very powerful and incredibly wealthy."
Hannah shuddered, pulling a soft blanket around her shoulders.
"She has a secret partner," Hannah whispered.
"Someone who helped her orchestrate the hostile takeover of the company."
"Exactly," Ethan agreed, his eyes flashing with determination.
"And whoever this partner is, they are terrified."
"They bailed her out because they know she will talk if she stays in jail."
Suddenly, Ethan's cell phone buzzed on the coffee table.
It was an unknown number.
Ethan stared at the glowing screen for a moment.
He reached out and pressed the speakerphone button.
"Hello?" Ethan answered cautiously.
A chilling, familiar laugh echoed through the quiet penthouse.
It was Beatrice.
"Did you really think it would be that easy, Ethan?" she mocked.
"You threw me in a cage like an animal."
"But you forgot that I always hold the winning hand."
Hannah squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back a wave of panic.
"You are a criminal, Beatrice," Ethan said coldly.
"You are going to spend the rest of your miserable life in a federal prison."
"Oh, I highly doubt that," Beatrice sneered.
"You see, there is an emergency board meeting scheduled for noon today."
"And my proxy will be attending."
"By the time the sun sets, you and Hannah will have absolutely nothing left."
The line went dead with a sharp click.
Ethan grabbed his suit jacket from the back of the chair.
May you like
"Get dressed, Hannah," he said urgently.
"We have a board meeting to crash."
