As Marcus helped her sit on the edge of the bed, she winced sharply.
“Your back is getting checked tonight,” he said.
“I’m fine.”Plan Family Trips
“You were shoved onto concrete.”
“I have survived worse than concrete.”
“That does not mean you should have had to.”
Before Evelyn could respond, there was a knock at the door.
Thomas entered with a leather folder pressed against his chest.
“Chairman Marcus, Mrs. Carter,” he said, bowing slightly. “I apologize for disturbing your family evening. I only need a signature confirming the ceremonial transfer announcement until legal registration is completed.”
Marcus held out his hand. “Give it to me.”
Thomas hesitated for half a second before passing over the folder.
Marcus opened it and scanned the first page. His face hardened.
“Where is Schedule Seven?”Prevent Fraud
Thomas blinked. “Sir?”
“The asset disclosure appendix. Every ownership transfer includes Schedule Seven. It lists liabilities, pending lawsuits, mortgages, and internal investigations.”
Thomas’s smile vanished. “It must have been left downstairs by mistake.”
Marcus slowly closed the folder.
“Thomas, I approved the acquisition of this flagship property seven years ago. I wrote the transition protocol myself. Schedule Seven is never left downstairs.”
Evelyn watched Thomas’s hands tighten.
“I will retrieve it immediately,” he said.
Marcus stepped between him and the door.
“No. You will stay here.”
He pulled out his phone and called the corporate legal director.Mother's Day gifts
“Send the digital transfer documents for Grand Imperial flagship to my private account now. Complete file. No one else is to be notified.”
Thomas’s face turned pale.
Evelyn looked from him to her son. “Marcus, what is wrong?”
“I don’t know yet,” Marcus said. “But someone does not want you to see what you own.”Luxury hotel stays
Ten minutes later, Marcus’s phone chimed.
He opened the files.
On the final page of Schedule Seven, one line stopped him cold:
Emergency Loan Facility: $180 million secured against flagship resort assets. Authorized by Regional Director Thomas Reed. Secondary guarantor: Carter Hospitality Group Executive Office.
Marcus stared at the document.
“I never authorized this loan.”
Thomas backed toward the door.
Marcus lifted his eyes. “What did you do?”
Thomas suddenly turned and ran.
The Director Who Knew Too Much
Marcus reacted instantly.Train Managers
“Security, lock the building down!”
But Thomas had spent fourteen years running the flagship resort. He knew every service elevator, every staff exit, every maintenance corridor beneath the marble floors.
By the time security reached the executive floor, he was gone.
Marcus called his chief security officer. “Find him. Freeze his company access. Notify airports and private terminals. I want every document connected to that loan on my desk tonight.”
Evelyn remained silent.