My father’s name, Arthur Alcott, was at the top of the homepage above the logo.

Underneath it was the announcement of our clean-energy filtration systems, powered by the recovered patents.

My phone began to vibrate on the desk.

It was an alert from the financial news network.

*Alcott’s Daughter Launches Rival Firm, Reclaims Father’s Legacy.*

“The press release is spreading,” Clara said. “I have six calls waiting from tech reporters.”

“Hold them,” I said. “Marcus, is the packet ready for the board?”

Marcus nodded, holding up a thick manila folder and a flash drive.

“We sent the digital copies to the personal emails of every board member ten minutes ago,” he said. “The physical copies are being delivered by courier to the King headquarters right now.”

I checked my watch.

It was eight-thirty-five.

By nine o’clock, the news alerts were no longer about my new firm.

The headline on the business page changed.

*King Enterprises Board Calls Emergency Session Amid Fraud Allegations.*

I sat at my desk, watching the live stock ticker for King Enterprises.

The blue line on the graph began to slope downward.