Investors froze transfers. The hotel released surveillance footage after receiving legal process. Emails surfaced showing Blake had ordered staff to enlarge my photograph because, in his words, “the White House background closes deals.”
Still, Dad believed he could control me.
He called from Claire’s apartment.
“Come here tonight,” he ordered. “We will settle this privately.”
“I can’t.”
“You owe us.”
“No. I owe the truth accuracy.”
His voice turned cold. “Without this family, you would be nothing.”
I looked at the framed security oath on my wall.
“Then you should have built your business without my name.”
PART 3
Two months later, the federal hearing room was smaller than the Halcyon ballroom and far less forgiving.