Vivian looked toward the hangar.
“And if he didn’t?”
Martin shrugged.
“Lake Union takes the field.”
“Then sells to us.”
“There it is.”
Vivian stepped closer.
“You understand that I never authorized foreclosure?”
“You authorized getting the land.”
“I authorized purchase.”
“Vivian, this is development.”
“You’re acting like somebody poisoned a well.”
“You interfered with his fuel supplier.”
“We offered replacement fuel.”
“At a thirty-two percent premium.”
“Because volume is low.”
“You used the company’s purchasing power to raise his cost.”
Martin’s jaw tightened.
“We need the airfield.”
“No.”
“You want it.”
“For the company.”
“For the board.”
“For the shareholders.”
“And yes, for the twenty-eight thousand employees you reminded everyone about last night.”
Vivian stared.
“How do you know what I said last night?”
Martin froze.
Too late.
Vivian felt a chill.
“Who told you?”
“No one.”
“You just quoted me.”
He recovered.
“Grant said you were worried about employee impact.”
“When?”
“This morning.”
Vivian looked toward his phone.
“Grant called you?”
“Yes.”
“What time?”
“Seven.”
“How did Grant know what I said at dinner?”
Martin stopped.
Vivian thought of the diner.
Public.
Maybe someone overheard.
Then she remembered only Ethan, Mia, three pilots, the waitress.
No executives.
“Who is monitoring me?”
Martin laughed nervously.
“No one.”
“Give me your phone.”
“What?”
“Phone.”
“Vivian.”
“Give it to me.”
He hesitated.
That was enough.
Vivian turned.
“Pete!”
The airfield manager appeared from the office.
“Yeah?”
“Call county security.”
Martin’s face changed.
“Are you serious?”
“Completely.”
He held out the phone.
“Fine.”
Vivian took it.
She did not search it.
She called her chief legal officer.
Outside counsel arrived two hours later.
So did Cross Aeronautical’s head of internal audit.
By afternoon, Vivian learned that her COO, Grant Hollis, had authorized a “competitive intelligence package” that included location data from company vehicles, executive travel feeds, and monitoring of public appearances.
Legal.
Mostly.
But Martin had asked a regional contractor to notify him whenever Vivian met privately with local stakeholders.
Not illegal.
Still disturbing.
Worse, Grant had personally approved the Lake Union strategy.
Vivian called him.
He answered:
“Tell me Martin didn’t melt down.”
“You approved foreclosure pressure.”
“Yes.”
“I told you the acquisition needed to remain voluntary.”
“It is.”
Vivian almost laughed.
“Buying a man’s debt and removing his fuel supplier is voluntary?”
“He can say no.”
“And lose the field.”
“That’s leverage.”
“That’s coercion wearing a finance degree.”
Grant’s voice cooled.
“You’re becoming emotional.”
Vivian became very still.
“Do not use that word because I’m disagreeing with you.”
“I’m saying you’re too close.”