Chapter 48 Exposed

Chapter 48 Exposed


POV: Royce

I was three blocks away when Elizabeth's signal came through. One word texted to my phone:

Exposed.

My blood turned to ice.

"Drive," I told Marcus. "Morrison Industries. Now."

We made it there in four minutes, running two red lights. I took the stairs because the elevator felt too slow, Marcus keeping pace beside me.

By the time we burst into the conference room, the situation had already escalated beyond anything I could have anticipated.

Elizabeth stood at the head of the table, still dressed as Jessica, her chin lifted defiantly. Helen Morrison stood opposite her, arms crossed, looking smug. Between them, Donald Crane and four other investors sat with expressions ranging from fury to fascination.

"Royce," Elizabeth said, relief flooding her face. "Perfect timing."

"What's happening?" I demanded.

"Your girlfriend decided to play dress-up," Helen said sweetly. "Impersonating her convict sister to trick my investors. Quite creative, actually. Though ultimately pointless."

Crane stood, his face carved from stone. "Someone needs to explain what the hell is going on. Miss Morrison assured me Jessica Wakefield was cooperating with her operation. Now I discover she's been hospitalized and this woman is impersonating her?"

"Because Helen tried to have my sister killed," Elizabeth said, her voice cutting through the room. "Twice. Once in prison, once in the hospital. And I have proof."

Helen laughed. "Proof? You have fabricated recordings and circumstantial evidence. Nothing that would stand up in any court."

"Then let's test that theory," Elizabeth said.

She pulled out her phone, connected it to the conference room's display system with a cable Marcus had apparently prepared for her, and hit play.

Helen's voice filled the room.

The recording from Elizabeth's wire meeting.

"Helen Morrison and I communicated extensively about the Sterling Corp operation. She provided funding through shell companies, strategic advice, inside information..."

Hendricks's voice next. Then Patricia Chambers, giving her federal testimony about the payment to Jessica's attacker.

Elizabeth had compiled everything into a devastating seven-minute presentation — every crime, every conspiracy, every illegal act Helen had orchestrated, all laid out with supporting documentation flashing on the screen.

Donald Crane's face went from stone to volcanic.

"You told me," he said, each word precise and controlled, "that this acquisition was completely legitimate. That Sterling Corp was vulnerable due to market forces and poor leadership decisions. That every dollar I invested was backing a clean, legal corporate acquisition."

Helen's composure finally cracked. "Donald, you can't possibly believe—"

"I invested forty million dollars based on your assurances of legitimacy!" Crane's voice rose, genuine fury breaking through his usual corporate restraint. "You've exposed me and my firm to federal investigation. To potential charges of conspiracy. To legal liability that could destroy everything I've built."

The other investors were standing now, all talking at once. One was already on his phone, clearly speaking to lawyers.

"This is manipulation," Helen tried. "Elizabeth Wakefield is desperate. She's fabricating evidence to save her boyfriend's failing company. You're smarter than this, Donald."

"Am I?" Crane turned to Elizabeth. "Can you verify this evidence? Can you provide documentation that proves these recordings are authentic?"

"Every recording has metadata showing date, time, and location. Patricia Chambers is in federal custody giving testimony that corroborates everything. Richard Hendricks has provided documentation of the shell company structure used to funnel illegal payments." Elizabeth's voice was steady, channeling Jessica's confidence. "And I can provide federal investigator contact information for any of you who want to verify independently."

"I'm calling my investment immediately," one investor said. "Morrison Industries no longer has North Star Capital backing."

"Same," another added. "Redwood Financial is out."

Within ninety seconds, three of the four major investors had verbally withdrawn their financial support.

Crane turned to Helen with something close to hatred. "You've destroyed my firm's reputation. We'll be cooperating with every federal investigation into your activities. And if we discover additional fraud beyond what's been presented here, I'll personally ensure you never work in finance again."

He walked out. The other investors followed.

The conference room suddenly felt very empty.

Helen stood alone, her carefully constructed empire collapsing in real time.

But she wasn't done.

I could see it in her eyes — that dangerous calculation that meant she had one more move.

"Congratulations," she said, her voice eerily calm. "You've turned my investors against me. Very clever. But it doesn't matter anymore."

"Your takeover just lost all financial backing," I said. "It's over, Helen."

"Is it?"

She pulled out her phone, showing us a screen I couldn't quite see from my angle.

"While you were all playing your little games with recordings and investigations, I've been busy. Sterling Corp's Jakarta division? Sold to Matsumoto Corporation three hours ago. The European manufacturing subsidiary? Acquired by Hoffman Industries. Your Middle East contracts? Transferred to a competitor whose name I won't even bother mentioning."

My stomach dropped.

"That's impossible. Those sales require board approval."

"Which I had. Gregory Walsh has been very cooperative." Helen's smile was poisonous. "Seven board members voted you out, Royce. That same majority has been authorizing asset sales all morning. By the time your legal injunction gets processed, Sterling Corp will be fragmented into a dozen pieces."

Elizabeth grabbed my arm. "She's lying. She has to be lying."

But I knew she wasn't.

I pulled out my phone, calling my CFO. He answered on the first ring.

"Royce, where are you? The board has been authorizing sales all morning. I tried to stop them, but Walsh has the votes and—"

"How many divisions?" I interrupted.

"Four major sales confirmed. Two more in final negotiations. By end of business today, Sterling Corp will be a holding company with no actual holdings."

I ended the call.

Helen watched my face, reading the confirmation there.

"Even if you regain control of the company, it will be a shell. An empty name with no assets, no divisions, no value. You'll have won a crown made of dust."

The words hit exactly as she'd intended.

"So you see," Helen continued, "you actually have to make a choice now, Royce. Do you fight to rebuild Sterling Corp from ruins? Spend years, maybe decades, trying to restore what's been lost? Or do you let it die with dignity and start something new?"

I looked at Elizabeth, still wearing Jessica's clothes, still holding herself like someone she wasn't.

"I don't know," I said honestly.

Before Helen could respond, the conference room doors burst open.

FBI agents flooded in, weapons drawn, moving with practiced efficiency.

"Helen Morrison, you're under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, corporate fraud, securities manipulation, and bribery of federal officials. You have the right to remain silent—"

Helen's expression finally cracked as they cuffed her hands behind her back.

"This isn't over," she said.

"Yes," I replied quietly. "It is."

She was almost at the door when the lead agent paused.

"We also have a warrant for Elizabeth Wakefield."

Elizabeth went rigid beside me.

"What?" I demanded. "Why?"

"Miss Wakefield, you're under arrest for criminal impersonation of your sister and for interfering with a federal investigation."

"That's insane," Marcus said.

"That's for a judge to determine. Miss Wakefield, please turn around."

Elizabeth's eyes found mine.

"It's okay," she said quietly. "I knew the risks."

I stepped forward. "She was helping you."

"Mr. Sterling, step aside or we'll add obstruction charges."

Elizabeth touched my arm gently. "Let them do their job. We'll sort this out."

They cuffed her.

I watched them lead her away.

Marcus stood beside me in the empty conference room.

"We need to call her lawyer. Get her bail set immediately."

"Yes."

My phone rang. Gregory Walsh.

"The injunction was denied," he said. "The board acted within emergency protocols. The vote stands. You're out."

He hung up.

I stood in Helen's conference room, surrounded by the wreckage of everything I'd built.

My company was gone.

The woman I loved was in federal custody.

And I had no idea how to fix any of it.