Chapter 17 - DAMIAN’S COUNTERATTACKDamian petitioned the board to restrict my use of the duress protocol.
Reason:
I had triggered what he characterized as a financial emergency during a personal confrontation.
He argued the remote had been intended only for coercive signing events.
I pressed it after the inhaler assault, not while someone physically held a pen to my hand.
Reasonable argument.
Rebecca produced the protocol language.
Trigger allowed where:
Mara Mercer reasonably believes physical intimidation, incapacitation, coercion, or interference is being used in connection with ongoing or anticipated control over her covered securities.
Damian had just said:
“The empire is mine now.”
After crushing medication.
After weeks of disputed share paperwork.
Could I reasonably connect those?
The independent committee said yes.
But they also changed the system.
Future triggers would:
Suspend covered transactions.
Alert counsel.
Require two-person review before lender notifications unless immediate risk required otherwise.
Why?
Because the first activation created broader alerts than necessary.
I agreed.
Safety systems can work and still need improvement.
That answer disappointed everyone who wanted:
Mara’s revenge button was perfect.
It wasn’t.
May you like
It was effective.
Different.
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