Chapter 11 - “Give me the keys”

Ryan entered the study and saw the binder open.
His face changed.
“Where did you find that?”
“In Dad’s files.”
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“Lena.”
“Does the board know about Melissa’s equity option?”
Silence.
That was answer enough.
Melissa arrived fifteen minutes later.
I had not called her.
Ryan had.
She walked into my father’s house as if she belonged there.
She said:
“The option is contingent compensation.”
I answered:
“Then why isn’t it in your disclosure schedule?”
Her eyes hardened.
“We were updating it.”
“When?”
No answer.
I took the binder.
Closed the study.
Locked it.
Put the keys into my trouser pocket.
Then Ryan said:
“Give me the keys and get out.”
“My father’s house?”
“Our home.”
May you like
“Not legally.”
That was when everything accelerated.