Chapter 3 - THE CRACKING MASKThe man entering the room was Julian Vance—the heir to Vance Logistics, one of the primary firms my company was preparing to buy out.
"Julian!" Brittany squealed, trying to pull away from security. "Tell her! Tell everyone who you are! Tell Megan she's nothing compared to us!"
Julian didn't move. His gaze was fixed on me, terror etched into every line of his face. He knew exactly who I was. I held the board votes that could make his family billionaires—or bankrupt them by midnight.
"Brittany..." Julian whispered, his voice trembling. "Shut up. Shut your mouth right now."
"What?" Brittany blinked, stunned. "Julian, she's just my loser little sister who—"
"She is the majority shareholder of Vanguard Holdings!" Julian barked, turning pale. He sprinted past Brittany, dropping to one knee in front of me before the entire family. "Miss Brooks... I had no idea this was your family. My father and I... we strictly adhere to your acquisition terms. Please, do not pull the funding for Vance Logistics!"
The entire room fell into a stunned silence so deep you could hear a pin drop.
My father tottered backward, catching himself on the edge of a table. "Julian... what are you doing? Get up! She's a nobody!"
"She owns my family's legacy, you idiot!" Julian yelled back at my father, sweating profusely. "If she pulls out of the deal, we go bankrupt tomorrow!"
Brittany looked like she had been slapped across the face with a block of ice. Her eyes darted from Julian to me, realization finally piercing her thick skull. The spotlight she had stolen three years ago was burning her alive.
"Julian," I said smoothly, looking down at him. "Your personal life is your own. But if your choice in partners reflects your judgment in business... I might have to reconsider our merger."
"No! I'll break it off! I'll cancel the engagement right now!" Julian pleaded without a second thought.
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"Julian, no!" Brittany shrieked, tears of actual terror overflowing now. "You can't do this to me!"
I turned to my parents, whose expressions were a mixture of horror, shame, and utter ruin. "You took everything from me three years ago. Tonight, I'm just balancing the ledger."
