“Who authorized a remote immobilizer in my car?”
Silence.
The father glanced toward her.
The chairman said:
“What?”
“My hypercar had a hidden remote shutdown module wired into ignition.”
Another pause.
“That sounds like a security issue.”
“It is.”
“Call your chief.”
“He isn’t answering.”
“Then I will.”
“Who knew my route?”
“You sound frightened.”
“I’m asking a question.”
“Your security staff.”
“My office.”
“Perhaps your assistant.”
“You.”
The chairman laughed softly.
“Are you accusing me of sabotaging your car?”
“I asked who knew.”
“You need to get off the roadside.”
“I am off.”
“Where?”
She looked at the father.
He shook his head.
The CEO said:
“Safe.”
The chairman’s tone changed.
Not much.
Enough.
“Come directly to headquarters.”
“I’m going to the meeting.”
“We can postpone.”
“You moved it early.”
“Because financing—”
“Move it back.”
Silence.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
The call ended.
The CEO stared at her phone.
The father said:
“He asked where you are.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t tell.”
“No.”
“Good.”
She looked at him.
“You understand that if my chairman is involved, this affects twenty-two thousand employees.”
“Then don’t decide based on him being nice at dinner.”
Her expression hardened.
“You know nothing about him.”
“No.”
“I know nice is not evidence.”
She wanted to be angry.
Instead, she looked out at the desert.
The chairman had worked with her father for nearly thirty years.
After her father’s death from a stroke, the chairman became the closest thing she had to a professional parent.
He taught her how to walk into a room where everyone expected a grieving daughter and leave as the person holding the votes.
He defended her when older directors said she was too young.
He told her:
“Leadership is deciding before fear becomes visible.”
Now she was afraid.
And he was asking where she was.
The father said:
“What is the meeting about?”
She looked at him.
“Nothing you need to know.”
“Fair.”
Silence.
Then she asked:
“Why did you leave Meridian?”
He smiled slightly.
“So we’re exchanging secrets?”
“No.”
“I’m asking.”
“My wife got sick.”
The CEO’s posture changed.