Chapter 14 - THE BOARDROOM TRAP
Vanguard Shield denied everything.
Their general counsel called the accusation ridiculous.
Their CEO, Marcus Vale, issued a public statement claiming Sentinel Arc was using “family drama” to distract from competitive weakness.
Meline watched the statement once.
Then smiled.
Malcolm knew that smile.
“What?”
“He wants a fight.”
Rebecca leaned back.
“Legally?”
“No.”
Meline closed her laptop.
“He wants attention.”
Two days later, Sentinel Arc requested an emergency industry ethics review concerning suspected use of stolen competitor data.
Vanguard sent eight attorneys.
Meline sent one.
Rebecca.
And herself.
The hearing took place at the offices of the Federal Technology Procurement Board.
Marcus Vale arrived smiling.
He was sixty-one, silver-haired, polished, and arrogant enough to mistake confidence for invincibility.
“Meline.”
He shook her hand.
“I’m sorry about your wedding.”
“Are you?”
“Terrible business.”
“Family can be disappointing.”
Marcus smiled.
“So can weak cybersecurity.”
Meline held his gaze.
He thought the comment had landed.
It had.
Just not the way he expected.
The review began.
Rebecca presented access logs.
Payments from Jason to Evan.
Downloads.
Timing.
Vanguard’s lawyer objected repeatedly.
Then Rebecca displayed a calendar entry from Jason’s phone.
Dinner - M.V.
Marcus stopped smiling.
The date matched the first unauthorized download.
His lawyer leaned toward him.
Whispered.
Marcus shook his head.
Rebecca continued.
A restaurant receipt.
Two meals.
One bottle of wine.
Jason’s credit card.
Marcus’s vehicle entering the parking garage.
Then came the email.
Not from Marcus.
From his chief strategy officer.
Jason,
Marcus liked the preview.
Bring the full target list next time.
The room went silent.
Marcus turned toward his lawyer.
Meline watched him carefully.
He had not known about the email.
That was important.
The chief strategy officer had been careless.
Marcus’s hands tightened.
“This proves nothing.”
Meline spoke for the first time.
“Then you won’t mind turning over the documents you received.”
Marcus stared at her.
“We will not disclose proprietary material.”
Rebecca smiled.
“You may not have a choice.”
The board chair cleared his throat.
“Vanguard Shield is temporarily suspended from the federal procurement process pending investigation.”
Marcus’s face went white.
Sentinel Arc’s largest competitor had just been frozen out of a contract worth nearly four hundred million dollars.
Meline gathered her papers.
Marcus whispered as she passed.
“You planned this.”
She stopped.
“No.”
She looked directly at him.
“Jason planned this when he stole from me.”
“You simply decided to buy what he was selling.”
She walked out.
In the hallway, Rebecca’s phone buzzed.
She read the message.
Then looked at Meline.
“Robert wants to cooperate.”
Meline’s expression did not change.
“What does he want in return?”
“Reduced prison time.”
“And what is he offering?”
Rebecca hesitated.
“Evidence against Jason.”
Meline stopped walking.
“What kind of evidence?”
Rebecca lowered her voice.
May you like
“Your father says Jason was planning something after the honeymoon.”
And suddenly, the case became personal again.
