A muffled, hurried voice came through the receiver, loud enough for me to hear the panic.

“Alexander? Where are you?” Arthur asked.

“I’m safe. Arthur, listen to me. I have the digital ledger. Marcus has been—”

“Alexander, stop talking,” Arthur interrupted.

I saw Alexander’s eyes narrow.

“They are monitoring my office line,” Arthur whispered, his voice shaking. “They were here thirty minutes ago with federal investigators.”

“Who?” Alexander asked.

“Marcus and Victoria,” Arthur said. “They presented the board with a signed authorization. They showed us transfers with your digital key.”

“It was forged, Arthur. Marcus used the back door in the treasury system.”

“The board didn’t care about explanations, Alexander. They voted. You are officially removed as CEO.”

“They can’t do that without a full hearing,” Alexander said, his grip tightening on the phone.

“They did it under the emergency bylaws,” Arthur replied. “Victoria’s firm is buying out the remaining voting shares to stabilize the stock.”

“She is liquidating my father’s company,” Alexander said.

“They’ve issued a federal warrant for your arrest, Alexander. They are calling you a fugitive.”