Chapter 16 - Iron and Silk – The Empress Takes the Throne
The top floor of Thorne Tower in Paris was filled with chaotic shouting. Sixteen elderly board members, dressed in expensive bespoke suits, were shouting over one another as they attempted to sign a panic-sale authorization to hand controlling rights of the company over to Aegis Global Consortium.
“Marcus is ruined!” shouted Board Member Sterling, Victoria’s uncle. “If we don't sell now, the stock will be worthless by noon!”
The heavy double doors of the boardroom slammed open.
Khloe walked in. She was dressed in an immaculate, sharp black double-breasted suit, her dark hair pulled back into a sleek, commanding ponytail. She held a black leather folder under her arm. Beside her were two senior Vance legal advisors carrying encrypted tablets.
“Sit down,” Khloe commanded. Her voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a terrifying gravity that made every billionaire in the room freeze.
“Mrs. Thorne, with all due respect,” Sterling sneered, standing up. “You are a socialite with no corporate standing. You cannot dictate terms to this board during a national security crisis!”
Khloe didn't argue. She threw the leather folder onto the center of the mahogany conference table.
“Inside that folder,” Khloe said, stepping around the table, “are the financial forensic logs showing that eight of you received thirty million euros in offshore shell accounts from Aegis Global last night to vote for this sell-off.”
The boardroom went dead silent. Sterling’s face turned gray.
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“Under Article 4 of the Thorne corporate charter,” Khloe continued, tapping a tablet, “treason against the board forfeits all equity immediately. As of 9:15 AM, Vance Global has purchased your liquidated shares. I now personally hold sixty-two percent of Thorne Industries.”
She leaned over Sterling’s chair, her eyes locking onto his trembling frame. “You are fired, Mr. Sterling. Security, remove these traitors from my building.”
