Chapter 6 - The Executive Decision
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Nathan turned his back on Mrs. Higgins and pulled his smartphone from his inner jacket pocket. He dialed a number he rarely used on weekends. It was answered on the first ring.
"Mark," Nathan barked into the receiver, addressing his lead corporate attorney. "Drop whatever you are doing. I need you to mobilize the entire family law division of the firm. I need emergency kinship placement papers filed in Allegheny County family court within the hour."
"Nathan, it's Saturday," Mark’s confused voice echoed through the speaker. "The courts are closed. What kind of emergency—"
"Call Judge Harrison at his private residence. Remind him of the campaign contributions Cole Meridian made to his reelection fund last year," Nathan ordered ruthlessly, the corporate shark fully awakened. "Tell him I have located my missing sister’s biological daughter in state custody, and if she spends one more night in the foster system, I will personally fund the campaign of whoever runs against him next term."
Mrs. Higgins gasped at the blatant display of power and extortion, stepping back against her filing cabinets.
"Consider it done," Mark said instantly, sensing the absolute severity in his boss's voice. "I'll have a courier on the way to the community center with temporary guardianship affidavits in twenty minutes."
Nathan hung up the phone and turned his blazing eyes back to the program director.
"Mrs. Higgins," Nathan said, his tone leaving no room for argument or protocol. "My lawyer will be here shortly. I will sign whatever temporary liability waivers you require. I will submit to any background check, fingerprinting, or home inspection your agency mandates. But June is leaving this building with me today."
"Mr. Cole, it doesn't work that way," Mrs. Higgins pleaded, wringing her hands. "There is a process. The child has to be prepped. A sudden disruption, even to a biological relative, can be deeply traumatic for a child with attachment issues. She has to pack her things at her current group home."
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"Whatever she has at the group home can stay there," Nathan stated coldly. "I will buy her whatever she needs. And as for trauma, I assure you, leaving her to sit in a folding chair waiting for families to reject her is far more damaging than me taking her home."
Nathan didn't wait for her permission. He opened the office door and marched back into the main hall. He had a schedule to rewrite, and it started with walking back to the little girl in the oversized blue coat.
