I nodded to Ijeoma, and she slid a thick white dossier down the table until it stopped in front of him.

“That is the formal notice of debt acceleration,” she said.

“Meridian is demanding repayment of the seventy-five-million-dollar principal, plus accrued interest, within twenty-four hours.

If it isn’t paid, we will seize all pledged collateral — Blackthorn’s intellectual property, its headquarters, and the personal real estate holdings in the valley.”

“Seize the house?” Imelda’s voice went thin and high.

“You can’t touch the house.