Chapter 5 - The War for Blackwood Empire
The morning sun broke through the storm clouds over New York City, casting a golden light over the private recovery suite at Mount Sinai.
Amelia lay in the bed, propped up by white pillows. She was pale, but her eyes were bright, and her hand was resting lovingly over her baby bump.
Ethan sat beside her, holding her hand, while Maya stood near the window, quietly looking out at the skyline.
“She saved us, Ethan?” Amelia asked softly, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at the little girl in the purple coat.
“She saved both of you,” Ethan said, his voice thick with emotion. “Without Maya, the doctors wouldn't have known about the toxin in time. The paramedics wouldn't have even known how to treat you.”
Amelia reached out her hand toward the window. “Maya... sweetie... please come here.”
Maya hesitated for a second before walking over to the bed. Amelia took Maya’s small, warm hands in her own and squeezed them gently.
“Thank you,” Amelia whispered, a single tear running down her cheek. “Thank you for giving my baby a chance to live. Thank you for saving my life.”
Maya looked down at their joined hands, a faint, rare smile appearing on her face. “Your baby is strong, Mrs. Blackwood. Her heartbeat is regular now. She’s going to be very smart.”
“Call me Amelia,” she smiled warmly. “And you’re going to be right here to meet her when she’s born.”
The moment was interrupted by the opening of the door. Detective Reyes of the NYPD Financial and Homicide Division walked in, carrying a thick yellow folder.
“Mr. Blackwood, Mrs. Blackwood,” Detective Reyes acknowledged respectfully. He turned to Maya and gave her a gentle nod. “Little lady.”
“What’s the status, Detective?” Ethan asked, standing up.
“Marcus is locked down in the medical wing at Bellevue under twenty-four-hour police guard,” Reyes reported. “Thanks to the encrypted flash drive and notebooks provided by Maya, federal prosecutors have already filed twenty-six felony counts against him, including attempted murder, corporate espionage, grand larceny, and first-degree murder for the death of Dr. Elena Vance.”
Ethan let out a long breath. “What about Apex Bio-Tech?”
“Feds raided their headquarters in New Jersey two hours ago,” Reyes continued. “They seized all production equipment, arrested six crooked executives, and recovered the remaining batches of Phenyl-B4. The threat is completely neutralized.”
Ethan nodded grimly. “And the board of directors?”
“The board has called an emergency session for eleven o’clock this morning,” Reyes said. “Marcus’s allies on the board are trying to push through a motion to freeze your executive voting rights while you’re attending to your wife’s medical emergency.”
Ethan’s eyes flared with a cold, predatory light. “They think I’m too distracted to fight back.”
“Ethan,” Amelia said gently from the bed. “Go to the meeting. Finish this. Show them who runs Blackwood Enterprises.”
Ethan looked down at his wife, then at Maya. A thought struck him.
May you like
“Maya,” Ethan said, a slow, powerful smile spreading across his face. “How would you like to attend your very first corporate board meeting?”
Maya looked up at him, her dark eyes shining with sharp intelligence. “I’ll get my notebook.”
