Chapter 7 - The Final Showdown at the Shareholders' Meeting
The annual Mercer Urban Shareholders' Meeting was packed to the gills. Every seat in the grand auditorium was filled with investors, journalists, and hostile board members. Flashbulbs blinded the stage as Julian Vance marched up to the podium, flanked by corporate lawyers.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Julian announced into the microphone, his voice dripping with false sorrow. "As acting chairman of the emergency governance committee, I must announce that due to severe ethical breaches, financial mismanagement, and compromised leadership, we are calling an immediate vote of no confidence against CEO Grant Mercer."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Cameras turned toward the back doors as Grant Mercer walked down the center aisle.
He wasn't alone.
He walked hand-in-hand with Clara Bellamy, and perched proudly on his shoulders was little Kira, holding a fresh piece of paper with a brand-new drawing.
Julian laughed mockingly into the mic. "Look at this! He brings his nanny and a toddler to a multi-billion-dollar corporate coup! Mr. Mercer, your reign of reckless sentimentality is over. Hand over your keys, your security clearance, and your resignation letter right now, or face criminal prosecution for corporate embezzlement!"
Grant walked calmly up the steps of the stage, stood before the podium, and looked out over the sea of flashing cameras and hostile faces. He didn't flinch. He didn't raise his voice.
"You talk about embezzlement, Julian," Grant said smoothly, pulling a flash drive from his pocket and plugging it into the auditorium's master console.
Instantly, the massive LED screen behind the stage flickered to life.
It didn't show financial records belonging to Clara. Instead, it displayed bank statements, encrypted emails, and recorded phone calls between Julian Vance and Howard Sterling—outlining a deliberate conspiracy to fabricate slander, leak false documents, and stage a hostile corporate takeover.
The auditorium erupted into absolute pandemonium.
Julian’s face went completely white. He lunged toward the console, stammering, "That’s—that’s a forgery! Hackers! He hacked the system!"
"Federal investigators already have the original copies," Grant said, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade of steel. "Securities fraud, conspiracy, and corporate espionage. Security is waiting outside for you, Julian."
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As two federal marshals stepped onto the stage and placed handcuffs on Julian Vance, the board room fell into a stunned, breathless silence.
Grant turned away from the microphone, ignoring the roaring applause of the shareholders and reporters. He walked back to where Clara stood frozen in shock.
