Chapter 9 - THE NEW DAWNThree months later, the financial pages of The Wall Street Journal carried a headline that made waves across global markets:
VALE MERIDIAN ANNOUNCES MAJOR RESTRUCTURING; ETHAN VALE ASSUMES FULL EXECUTIVE CONTROL UNDER NEW FAMILY TRUST ARCHITECTURE.
From the 85th-floor penthouse office of Vale Meridian, I stood beside Ethan as we watched the morning sunrise flood across the Manhattan skyline.
Serena was currently awaiting trial in a federal holding facility, her high-society friends having vanished into thin air the moment her assets were frozen. Lucas was facing five years for embezzlement.
Ethan was a changed man—stronger, wiser, and sharper than he had ever been. He had taken over daily operations of the logistics empire, proving himself to be a true leader.
Marcus Vance walked into the office, placing a fresh leather portfolio on my desk.
"Quarterly audit is clean, Malcolm. Global shipping routes are up fourteen percent," Marcus reported with a respectful nod.
"Thank you, Marcus," I said.
Marcus excused himself, leaving Ethan and me alone by the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Ethan turned to me, a small, genuine smile touching his lips. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pair of thick, black-rimmed reading glasses—identical to the ones I had worn during my three days as Martin Bell.
He held them out to me with a raised eyebrow.
"Dad," Ethan chuckled softly. "Just out of curiosity... do you happen to need any more housekeepers?"
May you like
I laughed out loud, clapping my son on the back.
"Only if you're willing to pay me minimum wage, son," I smiled.
