CHAPTER 10 – ISABELLA’S REVENGE
CHAPTER 10 – ISABELLA’S REVENGE
By sunrise, Isabella’s accusation dominated every major news network.
Thorne Group shares fell sharply before the market opened.
Reporters surrounded the hospital.
Online commentators dissected old photographs of Marcus and Isabella, presenting their social appearances as proof of an affair.
Isabella released edited audio clips.
In one recording, Marcus said, “Khloe cannot remain part of this.”
The full conversation had referred to Khloe remaining part of a dangerous charity event.
The edited version made it sound as though Marcus wanted her removed from his life.
A second clip contained Eleanor saying, “The child changes everything.”
Without context, it sounded like a conspiracy.
Khloe watched the coverage from her hospital bed.
“They planned this in advance,” she said.
Adrian nodded.
“Victor created files to destroy the Thorne family if the archive was ever opened.”
Marcus stood near the window.
“Can we prove the audio was edited?”
“Yes, but not before the board panics.”
His phone rang.
The emergency board meeting would begin in two hours.
Several directors wanted Marcus suspended.
Khloe looked at him.
“You need to go.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“You need to protect the company.”
“The company nearly killed you.”
“The people working there did not.”
Marcus hesitated.
Khloe continued.
“If Isabella takes control of the story, she takes control of everything.”
“You’re coming with me?”
“No. The doctor won’t allow it.”
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“Arrange a secure video connection.”
At nine o’clock, Thorne Group’s board gathered inside the company’s Manhattan headquarters.
Marcus entered beneath a wall of camera flashes.
Reporters shouted accusations.
“Did you order your wife’s assault?”
“Were you having an affair with Isabella Rossi?”
“Is Khloe Thorne alive?”
Marcus ignored every question.
Inside the boardroom, twelve directors waited.
Some had served his father.
Others had been appointed by Eleanor.
Two were secretly connected to Rossi companies.
Marcus knew their names from the archive.
He took his seat.
Director Samuel Price spoke first.
“Given the criminal allegations, we request your temporary resignation.”
“No.”
“This company cannot survive another scandal.”
“It survived twenty years of theft because several people in this room helped hide it.”
Silence.
Marcus placed copies of the archive records on the table.
Two directors turned pale.
Samuel Price remained calm.
“These documents are unverified.”
“Federal investigators disagree.”
The boardroom screen activated.
Khloe appeared from her hospital room.
She wore no makeup. Her face was pale. Medical equipment remained visible behind her.
Every director stared.
Khloe spoke clearly.
“My name is Khloe Grant Thorne. Under the protective trust created by William Thorne, I currently control fifty-four percent of voting authority.”
Samuel Price stood.
“That trust has never been confirmed.”
A federal trust officer appeared beside Khloe on the screen.
“It has now.”
Khloe continued.
“My first action is to suspend every director named in the archive pending investigation.”
Three security officers entered the boardroom.
Samuel Price looked toward Marcus.
“You cannot allow this.”
Marcus leaned back.
“She controls the vote.”
Samuel’s confidence vanished.
Two directors were escorted out.
The third tried to run.
Security stopped him at the elevator.
Khloe then addressed the remaining board.
“We will establish an independent committee, protect employee pensions and cooperate with federal authorities.”
One director asked, “What about Isabella’s recording?”
Adrian appeared on the screen.
“We recovered the complete files.”
He played the unedited audio.
Marcus’s words became clear in context.
Then Adrian played the hospital footage.
The board watched Isabella shove Khloe.
They heard every threat.
They saw the kick.
No one spoke after it ended.
Marcus looked around the table.
“Anyone who continues defending her should leave now.”
No one moved.
The door opened.
A federal agent entered and whispered to Adrian through the video connection.
Adrian’s expression tightened.
“What happened?” Khloe asked.
“Victor Rossi escaped during transport.”
Marcus stood.
“How?”
“An armored vehicle was attacked.”
“Where is Isabella?”
“No longer at the press conference.”
Khloe’s monitor began beeping faster.
Marcus looked at the screen.
“Khloe?”
A nurse entered her room.
Then the video feed suddenly went black.
Marcus grabbed his phone.
No signal.
At the hospital, every security camera on Khloe’s floor froze simultaneously.
Adrian ran toward her room.
The bed was empty again.
But this time, no nurse lay unconscious.
On the pillow rested a red rose.
And a handwritten note.
Bring the second drive to the old Thorne Tower.
May you like
Come alone.
Or Khloe and the child die before sunset.
