Part 5
The board meeting at Mercer International was intense.
Ethan was in the middle of a multi-million-dollar presentation to international investors.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated violently against the glass table.
It was a high-priority emergency alert from his penthouse security system.
A second later, a text message arrived from his head of security.
"Police are at the penthouse. Miss Veronica is there claiming a theft."
Ethan froze mid-sentence.
The entire boardroom went dead silent.
The executives looked at him in confusion.
"Mr. Mercer? Is everything alright with the presentation?"
Ethan didn't answer them.
He slammed his laptop shut with a loud, aggressive snap.
"The meeting is adjourned," he announced.
"But Mr. Mercer, the investors flew in from Europe just for this—"
"I said, adjourned," Ethan repeated.
His voice was dangerously sharp, brooking absolutely no argument.
He stood up, pushed his chair back, and walked out of the room.
He left fifty confused business partners sitting in silence.
He didn't care about the money right now.
He sprinted down the hallway to the private elevator.
His heart was pounding furiously against his ribs.
It wasn't fear for his business.
It was terror for the helpless woman and her little girl.
He got into his car and looked at his personal driver.
"Drive as fast as possible. Break every speed limit."
Meanwhile, back at the penthouse, two police officers were searching the cleaning cart.
Lily was crying loudly, hiding her face in the sofa cushions.
Rosa was on her knees, begging the officers with tears streaming down her face.
"I didn't take it! I swear to you! I've never seen that necklace before in my life!"
The officer reached deep into the side pocket of the cart.
His fingers caught on something.
He pulled his hand out.
There it was.
The diamond necklace caught the sunlight, sparkling cruelly in front of everyone.
Veronica sighed loudly and dramatically.
"There it is. My future mother-in-law's necklace. I knew this thief took it."
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The lead officer looked down at Rosa coldly.
"Ma'am, stand up immediately. You are under arrest for grand larceny."
