By Monday morning, someone had leaked Graham’s medical condition to the press. News vans lined the road outside the estate. Financial networks questioned whether he remained capable of leading Mercer Ridge Technologies.

Anonymous board members described him as confused, unstable, and paranoid. Vanessa’s attorneys released a statement claiming she’d been manipulated and falsely accused by a mentally impaired man.

The company’s stock fell twelve percent before noon.

At three o’clock, the board called an emergency meeting. Benjamin advised Graham to remain home. “Your hearing is worse today,” the attorney said. “The pressure may trigger another episode.”

“If I don’t appear, they’ll say I’m incapable.”

“If you do appear and miss a question, they’ll say the same thing.”