Chapter 2: The Boardroom Revolt
Matthew Hayes slept peacefully beside Lauren.
His phone began vibrating at 5:12 a.m.
He ignored it.
Then it rang again.
Again.
Again.
Finally, he answered.
"What?"
His Chief Financial Officer sounded terrified.
"Matthew..."
"The banks just suspended our primary credit facility."
Matthew sat upright.
"What are you talking about?"
"Our lead investors pulled out."
"Three board members resigned."
"The acquisition financing disappeared overnight."
Matthew laughed.
"Impossible."
The CFO didn't.
"Sterling Capital withdrew every guarantee they quietly provided over the last seven years."
Silence.
Matthew's smile slowly disappeared.
"What guarantees?"
Another pause.
"You... didn't know?"
Matthew's stomach tightened.
The CFO continued carefully.
"When NexusCore was founded, nobody would lend to us."
"Richard Sterling personally guaranteed our first credit line."
"He backed the Series A."
"He introduced the institutional investors."
"He guaranteed payroll twice during COVID."
"He never appeared publicly because Clare asked him not to."
Matthew stared into space.
"No..."
The CFO's voice broke.
"Without those guarantees..."
"We're insolvent."
Matthew ended the call.
Lauren slowly sat up.
"What's wrong?"
May you like
He whispered only one sentence.
"I think I just lost everything."
