Chapter 3 - ADRIAN ARRIVES
Adrian Hayes arrived twenty minutes later.
His attorney came with him.
So did HR.
The office had already become a disaster.
Employees were whispering.
Phones were hidden under desks.
Managers were calling legal.
Adrian entered the conference room and looked at Claire first.
Not Rebecca.
That told everyone something.
Rebecca noticed.
“So,” she said, “tell her.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“This is not the place.”
Rebecca laughed once.
“You made the office part of it when you put company-linked compensation into her package.”
Claire frowned.
“Company-linked?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Some of the instruments are tied to the acquisition.”
“What acquisition?”
Silence.
Claire’s face changed.
“You said the participation rights were personal.”
“They are economically personal.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“No. They’re tied to Northshore Systems.”
Claire knew the name.
Everyone did.
Her company had been quietly evaluating Northshore for months.
Suddenly the room felt colder.
Claire whispered:
May you like
“You used me in the deal?”
Adrian answered too slowly.
