Chapter 3 - THE CHAIR'S CHESS MOVEThe room erupted into absolute chaos. Shareholders stood up from their tables, shouting over one another. Financial reporters pulled out their phones, broadcast lights flicking on across the room.
Julian scrambled toward the stage podium, frantically trying to yank the HDMI cables from the floor box. "It's a hack! She's a disgruntled ex! Board members, do not look at that!"
"It's too late, Julian," a deep, authoritative voice boomed from the back of the room.
The crowd parted instantly.
Walking down the center aisle was Arthur Pendelton—the founder, major shareholder, and the man Julian believed was merely a senile figurehead living out his final years in a Swiss clinic. Arthur wasn't using his cane tonight. He walked with absolute precision, flanked by four plainclothes federal agents from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and two officers from the Major Crimes Division.
"Grandfather..." Julian stammered, backing away from the podium. "She... she manipulated the accounts! She's trying to frame me and Chloe!"
Arthur stopped at the edge of the stage, looking up at his grandson with utter disdain.
"I hired Miss Vance six months ago, Julian," Arthur said calmly. "Not as your compliance officer, but as my personal independent auditor. I knew someone was bleeding this company dry. I just needed to see how far you would go to cover it up."
Arthur turned to me and nodded slightly. "You played your part brilliantly, my dear. Even when the risk became... physical."
"You knew?!" Beatrice screamed at Arthur, her voice cracking into a panicked pitch. "You set my son up?! He is your blood!"
May you like
"He is a thief and a coward," Arthur replied coldly. "And blood doesn't cover federal wire fraud or attempted murder."
One of the federal agents stepped up onto the stage, producing a set of steel handcuffs. "Julian Vane, you are under arrest for corporate embezzlement, bank fraud, and aggravated assault."
