Chapter 9 - The Final AuditThe federal courthouse in downtown Manhattan was surrounded by a sea of media vans, flashing camera lights, and ravenous journalists shouting questions into the morning fog.
I sat inside the black armored SUV parked across the street, clutching a tablet that was live-streaming the annual Vale Industries board meeting on the seventieth floor. Beside me in the back seat, Noah, Ivy, and Owen were happily playing with a set of wooden blocks, completely unaware that their future was being decided a thousand feet in the air.
Through the high-definition live feed, I watched Jonathan Vale stride into the boardroom. He looked older today, his posture slightly stooped, but his eyes burned with ruthless triumph as he took his seat at the head of the table.
"Gentlemen," Jonathan’s voice projected clearly through the tablet speakers. "Today marks the consolidation of our energy monopoly. Let us finalize the acquisition."
Before the corporate secretary could slide the contract forward, the heavy oak doors of the boardroom swung open.
Sebastian walked in. He wasn't wearing his jacket; his sleeves were rolled up, revealing lean, muscular forearms, and his expression was that of an executioner. Behind him marched three federal marshals in dark blue windbreakers, followed by the director of the federal securities commission.
"Stop right there," Sebastian’s voice echoed through the massive room, cutting off the proceedings instantly.
Jonathan Vale rose slowly from his chair, his face twisting into a mask of cold fury. "Sebastian. Have you lost your mind? Security, remove this insolent boy from the premises!"
"Security takes orders from the primary stakeholder now, Grandfather," Sebastian replied calmly, tossing a thick stack of encrypted flash drives onto the center of the mahogany table. "Which, according to Section Four of the corporate charter and the verified marital reinstatement filed an hour ago, is legally myself and my wife, Elena."
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Gasps erupted around the boardroom. Jonathan’s face turned an alarming shade of purple as he slammed his fists down on the table. "You married that nobody again? You traded the Vale dynasty for a street-level liability?"
"I traded nothing," Sebastian said, stepping closer until he stood directly opposite the patriarch. "I simply reclaimed what was mine. And as for the energy acquisition contract—" Sebastian nodded to the federal marshals. "Director Vance, please execute the warrant for corporate fraud, bribery, and illegal surveillance against Jonathan Vale and Daniel Mercer."
