The phone on the desk rang.

Julian answered it immediately.

“Yes?” he said.

He listened for a moment, his brow furrowing.

“Put them through.”

He pressed the speaker button.

“Julian?” a man’s voice came through the line.

“It is Harrison from the board.”

“Harrison,” Julian said. “I am glad you called.”

“The news is everywhere, Julian,” Harrison said, his voice frantic.

“The television stations are showing Miranda being loaded into a police car.”

“The stock is already dropping in the after-hours trading.”

“What is going on?”

“My mother has been arrested,” Julian said simply.

“On charges of fraud related to the founding estate.”

There was a long silence on the other end.

“Fraud?” Harrison whispered.

“The estate is not hers,” Julian said.

“It belongs to the Cross family.”

“Who?”

“Elias Cross and his granddaughter, Valerie,” Julian said.

“They are the rightful heirs to fifty percent of the Sterling Group.”

“This is a disaster,” Harrison said.

“The board will demand your resignation, Julian.”

“They can demand whatever they like,” Julian said.

“I am calling a press conference for midnight.”

“I will announce the restructuring then.”