Chapter 6 - The Fall of the KingArthur Vance lowered the document slowly, his face flushing a deep, angry crimson. He looked up at Adrien, who stood frozen at the head of the table like a statue caught in an avalanche.
“Sterling... what is this?” Arthur’s voice was barely a whisper, but it cut through the room like a razor. “You used R&D funds to buy real estate for a personal affair? While our cash reserves were already tight?”
“It’s... it’s out of context,” Adrien stammered, taking a half-step backward. “Arthur, listen to me. Natalie is manipulating the data. We can restructure—we can audit—liberate the servers—!”
“The servers will remain locked,” I interrupted, leaning forward over the table, locking eyes with my ex-fiancé. “And as of right now, Aegis Core is exercising its collateral option. Because Vanguard Tech cannot service its debts without my software, the entire company is defaulting.”
I placed a final document onto the center of the table.
“I am offering a full corporate buyout,” I announced to the board members. “I will absorb Vanguard Tech under Aegis Holding, clear the immediate liabilities, and restructure the management team. Under one condition.”
Arthur Vance blinked, staring at me with a mixture of shock and profound respect. “What condition?”
“Adrien Sterling is terminated immediately, stripped of all stock options, and barred from entering any Vanguard facility effective immediately.”
Adrien lunged forward, his face contorted in rage. “You can’t do this! I built this company! I made it what it is!”
“You were the face, Adrien,” I said softly, standing up to meet his furious gaze. “I was the brain. And without the brain, the body dies.”
May you like
Arthur Vance looked around the table. The other board members nodded in grim unison.
“The motion carries,” Arthur declared, standing up and extending his hand across the table toward me. “Welcome to the CEO seat, Ms. Hayes. Let’s sign the papers.”
