At 8:12 the next morning, Daniel’s executive assistant, Melissa Grant, entered his office carrying a sealed legal notice.
“Sir, you need to read this.”
Daniel opened the envelope.
Divorce petition.
Temporary financial protections.
Formal notice to Mercer Technologies’ board.
Then he reached the ownership section.
His expression changed.
Melissa spoke carefully.
“Claire still owns forty-eight percent of Mercer Technologies.”
Daniel stared at her.
“That’s impossible.”
“The original shareholder agreement was never amended.”
He stood.
“I’m the CEO.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then fix it.”
Melissa did not move.
“There’s more.”
Daniel froze.
“Your voting rights have been temporarily suspended pending an internal fraud investigation.”
His face went white.
“What investigation?”
Melissa placed another folder on his desk.
Unauthorized transfers.
Corporate expenses.
Private travel.
Hotel bills.
Consulting payments.
And purchases connected to Ashley.
Daniel slowly sat down.
Then Melissa delivered the final piece of news.
“Claire has requested an emergency board meeting for noon.”
“She can’t do that.”
Melissa looked at him.
“With forty-eight percent ownership and support from two independent directors, she can.”
For years, Daniel believed CEO meant owner.
That morning, he finally understood how wrong he had been.
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