“You cannot freeze my personal assets, Hayes,” Richard hissed.

“They are protected under the 2012 amendment.”

“Not anymore,” Mr. Hayes said calmly.

“The board found evidence of co-mingling.”

“You used corporate funds to pay the private investigators in Connecticut.”

“You used the company jet to travel to the clinic where Emily was staying.”

“Every transaction was logged under ‘market research’.”

“That is corporate embezzlement, Richard.”

Richard’s hand slipped from the door frame.

He looked like he had suddenly aged ten years.

The elegance of his posture was gone.

He was just an old man in a cold hallway.

“This is my company,” Richard whispered.

“I built this.”

“My father built this,” Nathan said.

“You just managed the decline.”

Nathan turned his back on his father and looked at Mr. Hayes.

“Where is the board meeting?” Nathan asked.

“They are assembling in the main conference room on the forty-first floor,” Mr. Hayes said.

“They want you there in five minutes.”

“And Emily?” Nathan asked, looking at me.

“She should come too,” Mr. Hayes said.

“As Lily’s natural guardian, she holds the temporary voting rights for the trust.”