Chapter 18 - THE BOARDROOM AMBUSH: 50 DIRECTORS TURNED THEIR BACKS, BUT A SINGLE PHONE CALL FROZE THE ROOM!
Julian’s grip on the gun loosened for a fraction of a second as the weight of the betrayal hit his mind.
Taking advantage of the split-second distraction, Eleanor’s chief security director lunged forward, sweeping Julian’s legs out from under him!
BANG!
A shot fired wildly into the ceiling, shattering a massive glass chandelier! The detonator flew out of Julian's hand, skidding across the slippery marble floor!
Chloe dove across the floor like a lightning bolt, grabbing the detonator and immediately pulling the battery safety pack out, disarming the explosives!
"Get him!" the security chief yelled. Four tactical guards tackled Julian to the floor, slamming him down and pinning his arms behind his back. Julian wept hysterically as he was dragged away in heavy chains, his mind completely broken.
However, before the guests could even catch their breath, every phone in the ballroom chimed simultaneously.
Emergency financial alerts lit up the screens of every director, billionaire, and news reporter in the room:
ALERT: HOSTILE TAKEOVER INITIATED. APEX GROUP BUYS 52% OF VANCE GLOBAL CLASS-A SHARES. EMERGENCY BOARD MEETING CONVENED IMMEDIATELY.
From the main stage monitor, a video signal automatically overrode the feed. A mysterious figure sitting in a dark, high-backed leather chair appeared on the giant screens overlooking the ballroom. His face was hidden in deep shadows, his voice altered by a heavy modulator.
"Good evening, Eleanor," the figure sneered darkly. "You saved your daughters from the fire. You saved them from Julian. But you cannot save your empire from capital."
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Eleanor stepped toward the screen, her fists clenched. "Who are you?"
"I am the majority owner of Vance Global Holdings as of three minutes ago," the Shadow Chairman boasted calmly. "By sunrise, your family will be stripped of all corporate titles, evicted from the Vance Estate, and blacklisted from every financial market on earth."
