Chapter 11 - Damian’s Boardroom
At eight the next morning, Damian Thorne walked into the forty-second-floor boardroom of Thorne Global.
Twelve directors were waiting.
Marcus’s chair was empty.
Damian noticed.
“Where is our CEO?”
General counsel answered.
“At the hospital.”
“Still?”
Nobody responded.
Damian placed his leather folder on the table.
“Then we proceed.”
The first motion involved emergency governance.
The second involved temporary suspension of Marcus’s executive authority.
The third would authorize preliminary negotiations for the sale of Thorne Biotech.
Damian spoke smoothly.
“Our company cannot remain frozen because of a domestic scandal.”
One director frowned.
“Khloe Thorne was attacked.”
“By Marcus’s former mistress.”
Damian looked regretful.
“Which is exactly why markets will react badly.”
Another director leaned forward.
“And selling the biotech division solves that?”
“It creates liquidity.”
“It also happens to transfer our most promising intellectual property.”
Damian smiled.
“That is why we negotiate.”
The boardroom doors opened.
Marcus entered.
Everyone turned.
He wore the same tuxedo trousers from the night before with a clean white shirt.
He looked exhausted.
But steady.
Damian’s smile disappeared.
“You should be with your wife.”
Marcus took his seat.
“I am exactly where my wife needs me to be.”
Damian leaned back.
“How touching.”
Marcus placed a folder on the table.
“I’m resigning as CEO.”
Silence.
Damian blinked.
The move had surprised him.
Marcus continued.
“Effective immediately.”
Several directors started speaking at once.
Marcus raised a hand.
“I will remain a shareholder.”
“I will cooperate with the board.”
“But my personal misconduct has created risk for this company.”
“I will not pretend otherwise.”
Damian watched carefully.
Marcus turned toward him.
“Now that my position is no longer part of the argument, let’s discuss yours.”
Damian smiled.
“I don’t have one.”
Marcus slid photographs across the table.
Isabella entering the Halston Hotel.
Damian entering afterward.
The prepaid phone.
The wire transfer.
The trust challenge.
Directors picked them up.
Damian did not.
“Circumstantial.”
Marcus nodded.
“Mostly.”
Damian’s eyes narrowed at the word.
Marcus continued.
“But the police are currently examining Elaine Parker’s testimony.”
For the first time, Damian lost color.
“What testimony?”
Marcus watched him.
“You tell me.”
Damian stood.
“This meeting is becoming theater.”
“No.”
Marcus remained seated.
“The theater happened last night.”
“My pregnant wife was nearly hospitalized because someone wanted to create a public marital breakdown.”
He glanced around the table.
“I cheated on my wife.”
Several directors shifted uncomfortably.
“I lied to her.”
“I allowed myself to be blackmailed.”
“I failed in ways I will regret for the rest of my life.”
Damian stared at him.
Marcus’s voice became harder.
“But I did not arrange an attack on her.”
“And I will spend every dollar I have proving who did.”
Damian laughed.
“You’re emotional.”
“Probably.”
“You’re also finished.”
“Maybe.”
Marcus looked at him.
“But if I’m going down, Uncle Damian, you’re coming with me.”
The meeting ended without a vote.
That alone was a victory.
But it lasted only nine minutes.
As Marcus entered the elevator, two detectives were waiting.
Detective Ortiz stepped forward.
“Marcus Thorne?”
“Yes.”
“We have a warrant.”
Marcus stared at her.
“For what?”
“Conspiracy, wire fraud, and solicitation related to the payment made to Isabella Rossi.”
Marcus froze.
“That transfer was forged.”
“Then your attorney can argue that.”
The elevator doors opened behind her.
Two officers stood inside.
Marcus slowly extended his hands.
As the cuffs closed around his wrists, his phone began to ring.
Khloe.
He stared at her name on the screen.
Detective Ortiz answered it for him.
“Mrs. Thorne?”
There was silence.
May you like
Then Khloe asked the question Marcus feared most.
“Why are you answering my husband’s phone?”
