Chapter 4 - The Shadow Investor
The morning sun had barely cleared the horizon when I arrived at the downtown offices of Thorne Industries.
The air was crisp and cold,
matching the quiet determination that had settled deep within my bones.
I was met at the elevator by a young assistant who guided me to the top floor,
where Julian Thorne was waiting.
Julian was a legend in the venture capital world,
known for his sharp intellect and his complete lack of mercy for failing businesses.
He was also the primary investor Bennett had been courting for his new pharmaceutical venture.
"Doctor Morrow,"
Julian said,
rising from his massive mahogany desk to shake my hand,
"I must admit,
I was surprised to receive your call so late last night."
"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,
Mister Thorne,"
I said,
taking a seat in the comfortable leather chair opposite him.
"I saw the news about the incident at the fundraiser,"
he said,
a faint,
knowing smile touching his lips,
"it seems your husband had a rather difficult evening."
"Bennett's difficulties are only beginning,"
I replied,
placing a slim silver flash drive on the desk between us.
"What is this?"
he asked,
leaning forward,
his interest clearly piqued by my calm demeanor.
"This is the complete clinical trial data for the heart preservation technology,"
I said,
"the very technology Bennett promised you for his new company."
"And why are you showing this to me?"
he questioned,
"Bennett assured me that his company owned the exclusive rights to this research."
"Bennett lied,"
I said simply,
"the patent is registered under my maiden name,
and it is held by an independent trust that he cannot touch."
Julian picked up the flash drive,
turning it over in his hand as he processed the weight of my words.
"If this is true,"
he said,
"then Bennett has been selling me a shell company with no actual assets."
"Exactly,"
I said,
"he used my reputation to secure your interest,
intending to force me into signing the transfer papers after the divorce."
"The divorce?"
Julian asked,
his eyebrows rising in surprise.
"I filed the paperwork at midnight,"
I said,
"and by noon today,
Bennett's personal assets will be temporarily frozen pending a forensic audit."
"You are a very dangerous woman,
Doctor Morrow,"
Julian said,
a genuine look of admiration crossing his face.
"I am a doctor,
Mister Thorne,"
I corrected him,
"I know exactly where to cut to remove a tumor without damaging the healthy tissue."
"And what is it you want from me?"
he asked,
leaning back in his chair.
"I want you to pull your funding from Cross Pharmaceuticals,"
I said,
"and reinvest it in Morrow Biotech,
the company I am launching tomorrow."
He was silent for a long moment,
the only sound in the room being the soft hum of the city far below.
Then,
he extended his hand across the desk,
"I have always preferred to invest in the surgeon,
rather than the salesman."
I shook his hand,
May you like
knowing that with this single alliance,
I had just cut off Bennett's primary lifeline.
