Alexander's laptop screen displayed a scanned corporate charter amendment. Clause 14B. He highlighted the paragraph. Scrolled down. Printed the document. The machine hummed. Paper slid into the tray. He pulled it out, walked to Elena's desk, and set it beside the audit notice.
She traced the header with her index finger. The ink was still warm. The font was standard corporate legal. The language left no room for negotiation. She picked it up. Read the first line aloud. "Regulatory contingency clause. Protective merger protocol. Trigger condition: federal compliance review or asset audit with Sterling corporate leadership. Execution: automatic transfer of voting rights to board-appointed trustee. Vance Analytics operating assets fold into Sterling primary structure. Effective immediately upon filing."
