Chapter 4 - THE GHOST OF THE BOARDROOMVictoria’s confident smirk instantly vanished, replaced by a look of sheer, unadulterated horror.
From the lead sedan stepped a man wearing a crisp, charcoal-gray tailored suit, holding a leather briefcase. Behind him walked three senior board members of Vance Global, flanked by federal agents wearing tactical windbreakers.
It was Arthur Sterling, the retired Chief General Counsel of the Vance Corporation—a man rumored to have retired years ago to a private island, and the only person outside of Victoria who knew the true location of the original, unamended corporate charter.
"Good evening, Victoria," Arthur said smoothly, adjusting his silver-rimmed glasses as he walked into the light. "It seems your tenure as CEO is coming to a sudden and unceremonious end."
Victoria staggered backward, her manicured hands trembling. "Arthur? You... you’re supposed to be dead! Your yacht exploded in the Mediterranean five years ago!"
Arthur smiled thinly. "An expensive rumor, manufactured to keep me safe from people who like cutting brake lines and poisoning tea. Much like how you tried to erase Daniel and his family today."
He turned his gaze toward Daniel, offering a respectful nod. "Young Mr. Vance, your father would be proud. We have all the documents, the audio recordings, and the financial paper trail."
Victoria spun around, desperately reaching for the door handle of her wrecked car, looking for a way out. But Marcus was already there, casually leaning against the door with a pair of heavy-duty steel handcuffs swinging from his finger.
"Don't bother, Mrs. Vance," Marcus smirked. "The tires are flat, the engine is dead, and federal jurisdiction doesn't negotiate with corporate psychopaths."
Two federal agents stepped forward, grabbing Victoria roughly by the arms and forcing her hands behind her back. The heavy steel cuffs clicked shut with a sharp, final sound.
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"You can't do this to me!" Victoria shrieked, thrashing against the agents as they dragged her toward one of the black sedans. "I am the Vance family! You are all nothing without me! DANIEL! YOU HEAR ME? YOU'LL NEVER KEEP THE COMPANY! YOU'LL DIE IN POVERTY!"
Her screams faded into the night air as the cruiser doors slammed shut, sealing her fate.
