The officer looked exhausted.
“Ma'am, that question doesn't change your boarding pass either.”
Nia covered her mouth.
Maya gave her a warning glance.
Don't.
Nia smiled.
The officer returned the passes.
“You're free to board.”
Caroline stood rigidly.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
It was Richard.
She answered.
“Richard?”
His voice was urgent.
“Where are you?”
“The lounge.”
“Leave.”
“What?”
“Leave the lounge now.”
Caroline frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I just received a call from the board.”
Her stomach tightened.
“What board?”
“Our board.”
“What happened?”
Richard's voice dropped.
“They know about the audit.”
Caroline went still.
“What audit?”
“The Sterling Meridian review.”
The name meant nothing to her at first.
Then it did.
Sterling Meridian.
The investment group.
The company rumored to be considering acquiring a controlling interest in Marlowe Haven.
Caroline whispered, “What about it?”
Richard didn't answer.
“Richard?”
“They've requested every executive contract.”
Her hand began to shake.
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“Does Marcus Sterling know?”
A long pause.
Then Richard said, “He's the chairman.”
Caroline stopped breathing.
“Marcus Sterling?”
“Yes.”
The same Marcus Sterling whose company had been in negotiations to acquire a majority stake in Marlowe Haven.
The same Marcus Sterling who was known for firing executives without warning when ethical lines were crossed.
The same Marcus Sterling whose daughters were about to fly to London.
Caroline slowly turned.
Her eyes landed on Maya.
Then Nia.
Both twins were watching her.
Maya knew.
She could see it.
Recognition.
Fear.
Calculation.
Caroline's phone slipped slightly in her hand.
Richard spoke again.
“Caroline?”
She barely heard him.
“Are you there?”
She looked at Maya.
And Maya gave her the smallest possible smile.
Not cruel.
Not triumphant.
Just knowing.
Caroline suddenly understood that the women she had ordered to “sit in the back” were not passengers without influence.
They were Marcus Sterling's daughters.
And their father was not merely a businessman.
He was the man about to decide whether Caroline's husband still had a job.
Five Minutes
The twins boarded the aircraft at 7:42 p.m.
Neither spoke about Caroline.
They had learned long ago that humiliation could become addictive if you allowed it to dominate your thoughts.
They were not interested in revenge.
They were interested in getting to London.
Maya placed her bag in the overhead compartment.
Nia sat beside the window.
Their seats were exactly where they had reserved them.
1A.
1B.
The cabin door remained open.
Passengers continued boarding.
A flight attendant approached.
Her name was Rachel.
She had heard about the incident.
“Ladies,” she said quietly, “I'm very sorry about what happened.”
Maya smiled.
“Thank you.”
Rachel hesitated.
“I don't agree with what she said.”
Nia looked at her.
“Did you hear it?”
Rachel nodded.
“I did.”
“Then thank you for saying something.”
Rachel smiled.
“You shouldn't have to earn the right to sit where you paid to sit.”
Nia's expression softened.
“Exactly.”
A few minutes later, Richard Harrington boarded.
He looked exhausted.
He saw the twins.
Then immediately looked away.
Caroline followed behind him.
She was no longer angry.
She was frightened.
She stopped when she saw Maya.
Their eyes met.
Caroline opened her mouth.
No words came.
Maya simply nodded toward the aisle.
“Your seat is in Business Class.”
Caroline stared at her.
Nia added quietly, “You should probably take it.”
Richard touched Caroline's arm.
“Let's go.”
They moved away.
The aircraft doors closed.
The plane began pushing back.
Only then did Nia turn toward her sister.
“So.”
Maya looked at her.
“So.”
“Dad knew?”
“I think so.”
“Of course he knew.”
Maya smiled.
Their father always knew more than he said.
Forty minutes into the flight, Maya's phone connected to the aircraft's Wi-Fi.
A message appeared.
From Dad.
Call me when you're settled.
Maya called.
Marcus answered immediately.
“You two okay?”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone touch you?”
“No.”
“Threaten you?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Nia leaned closer.
“Dad.”
“Yes?”
“Are you already investigating?”
Silence.
Then Marcus laughed softly.
“Your mother would be proud of you.”
“That means yes.”
“It means I know who Caroline Harrington is.”
Maya's eyes narrowed.
“How?”
“Because her husband's company is involved in a transaction with one of ours.”
Nia frowned.
“Was she always like that?”
Marcus became quiet.
“No.”
“What happened?”
“Money happened.”
The twins waited.
Marcus continued.
“Richard Harrington is CFO of Marlowe Haven. He's been there for nine years. The company has struggled financially for the last three.”
Maya's expression changed.
“And you were considering acquiring it.”
“We already own twenty-eight percent.”
Nia's eyes widened.
“You never told us.”
“You were busy building Kismet.”
“So what's happening now?”
Marcus sighed.
“I've ordered a full governance review.”
Maya looked toward the Business Class cabin.
“Because of her?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because the incident gave me a reason to ask a different question.”
“What question?”
“What else have people been getting away with?”
The sisters fell silent.
Marcus continued.
“I've spent the last eighteen months examining Marlowe Haven's financial structure. Something never added up.”
“What?”
“Executive expenses.”
Nia leaned forward.
“How much?”
“Enough.”
Maya knew her father.
When he said enough, it usually meant millions.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“There's a pattern of vendor contracts routed through shell companies.”
“Shell companies?”
“Yes.”
“Who owns them?”
“We don't know yet.”
“Dad.”
“I said we don't know.”
“But you suspect someone.”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Marcus didn't answer.
Maya suddenly understood.
“Richard?”
“I don't know.”
“Caroline?”
“Possibly.”
Nia shook her head.
“Dad, if you're investigating them, why did you let them keep their jobs?”
“Because suspicion isn't evidence.”
Maya smiled.
“That sounds like you.”
Marcus laughed.
“I taught you both something.”
“What?”
“Don't punish people because you dislike them.”
Maya looked toward the aisle.
“Then what do we do?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Enjoy London.”
Nia smiled.
“And Caroline?”
“Let the truth deal with Caroline.”
The call ended.
Maya looked at Nia.
“Five minutes.”
“What?”
“Dad said the truth would deal with Caroline.”
Nia laughed.
“He always says things like that.”
But Marcus Sterling knew something his daughters did not.
Before the plane had even taken off, his general counsel had sent him the first preliminary report.