Chapter 4 - BLOOD AND BOARDROOMSThe executive boardroom on the top floor of Vance Tower was built to intimidate. Wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass panels overlooking the glittering skyline of the financial district, the massive mahogany table was surrounded by twelve of the most powerful, ruthless board members in the country.
When the heavy double doors swung open, all eyes turned toward the entrance.
Lyra Vance walked in first. She wore a midnight-blue Chanel suit, her hair pulled back into a sleek, flawless ponytail. Behind her walked Lady Eleanor, leaning on a silver-headed cane, looking stronger and more lethal than she had in a decade.
Victor Vance sat at the far end of the table, his face pale, sweating profusely despite the freezing air conditioning. He had spent the last two hours trying to delete his digital footprint, only to find every single hard drive locked down by federal authorities.
“Sit down, little girl,” sneer-filled voice came from Robert Sterling, the senior board member and Marcus Cole’s closest ally. “Let’s get one thing straight. This is a multi-national corporation, not a family reunion. We don’t care about fairy tales or DNA tests unless they are backed by corporate law.”
Lyra didn’t reply immediately. She walked to the head of the table—the seat traditionally reserved for the CEO and Chairman—and pulled out the chair. She didn’t sit down yet. She rested her palms on the polished wood and looked around the room.
“Mr. Sterling,” Lyra began, her voice calm, clear, and dripping with absolute authority. “You’ve been on this board for twenty-two years. You approved the acquisitions in Eastern Europe that doubled our portfolio in 2015.”
Sterling crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. “And?”
“And you failed to disclose that the shell company used to purchase those assets was wholly owned by Marcus Cole,” Lyra said smoothly, sliding a printed document across the table toward him. “Which violates federal anti-corruption laws and triggers an immediate forfeiture of all your vested stock options.”
Sterling’s face lost all its color. He grabbed the paper, his hands trembling violently as his eyes scanned the legal clauses.
“This... this is forged!” Sterling stammered, standing up so fast his chair screeched against the floor.
“Is it?” Lyra tilted her head, a cold smile playing on her lips. “The Department of Justice signed off on that audit thirty minutes ago. You have two choices, gentlemen: You either vote unanimously to ratify my position as Chairman and CEO of Vance Global right now, or I let the federal prosecutors walk through those doors and take every single one of you out in handcuffs.”
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The room went dead silent. You could hear the hum of the air conditioning.
Slowly, one by one, the terrified board members lowered their heads and pressed the green voting button on their armrests.
