Chapter 9 - The Boardroom’s ShockThree weeks later, the corporate headquarters of Steel Industries buzzed with nervous energy.
The executive board of directors sat around the mahogany table in the 60th-floor boardroom, whispering anxiously among themselves. Rumors had been swirling for days: the Ice King hadn't stepped foot in the office for three weeks, he had liquidated twenty million dollars in personal assets for a new charitable foundation, and corporate restructuring documents were flooding legal departments.
The heavy glass doors swung open.
Robert Steel walked in. But he wasn't alone.
Walking right beside him, wearing miniature tailored suits and a little pink dress, were Ethan, Emma, and Evan, holding their father’s hands with absolute confidence.
Marcus Vance, the senior managing director who had long plotted to usurp Robert’s position during his perceived isolation, stood up abruptly.
“Robert! What is the meaning of this? This is a professional corporate boardroom, not a daycare!” Marcus scoffed, glaring down at the children.
Robert stopped at the head of the table. The icy scowl that had defined his career was completely gone, replaced by an expression of supreme, unshakeable authority.
“Marcus, meet my children. My legal, recognized heirs and the future majority shareholders of Steel Industries,” Robert announced, his voice ringing crisp and clear through the room.
Marcus laughed nervously, looking around at the other board members. “Heirs? You never had children! This is a legal stunt—”
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“It’s not a stunt,” Robert interrupted coldly, sliding a thick stack of certified legal documents across the table. “Furthermore, effective immediately, fifty percent of my voting shares are being transferred into the Clara & Steel Family Foundation, managed jointly by myself and my children. And you, Marcus, are terminated for gross ethical misconduct discovered during our recent internal audit.”
Marcus’s jaw dropped. Before he could utter a single word of protest, two corporate security guards stepped forward, placing their hands firmly on his shoulders and escorting him out of the boardroom.
