Chapter 6 - The Boardroom Coup
The lobby of Cross Industries was a sea of flashing camera lights and shouting reporters by 9:30 AM. Nathaniel strode through the glass revolving doors with Elena walking calmly beside him, her hand securely holding Miles's while Grace and Sophie stayed with a trusted nanny in the penthouse.
Security guards formed a wedge through the press, shielding them from microphones thrust like weapons.
“Mr. Cross! Is it true you have illegitimate children?” “Mr. Cross! Has your mother ousted you from the board?”
Nathaniel didn't answer a single question. He rode the private elevator up to the 72nd floor in absolute silence.
When the mahogany double doors of the boardroom swung open, the scene inside was already underway. Celeste Cross sat at the head of the long obsidian conference table, flanked by three senior board members and legal representation from the Lockwood firm.
"You're late, Nathaniel," Celeste said smoothly, not even looking up as she adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses. "As acting chair, invoking clause 14-B of the corporate charter regarding executive stability and moral hazard, the board has voted to strip you of your CEO title effective immediately."
The silence in the room was electric. The senior board members looked away, unwilling to meet Nathaniel's furious gaze.
"You didn't have the quorum for that vote, Mother," Nathaniel said, his voice deadly calm as he walked toward the head of the table. "Director Vance is in Zurich and hasn't proxy-voted, and Director Sterling’s term expired last week."
"We appointed an interim proxy an hour ago," a voice drawled from the doorway.
Nathaniel turned to see Jonathan Vance—his estranged uncle and minority stakeholder—walking into the room, flanked by two corporate raiders. Jonathan had spent a decade trying to oust Nathaniel's father, and now he had partnered with Celeste to reclaim the throne.
"It's over, nephew," Jonathan smiled, taking a seat beside Celeste. "The market hates scandals, and an illegitimate brood with a broke nobody is the biggest scandal Cross Industries has seen in a century. We're restructuring the company, buying out your shares at a depreciated valuation, and sending you back to obscurity."
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Elena stepped forward, her expression serene, carrying a thick leather-bound folder that she placed squarely on the center of the obsidian table.
"Actually, Mr. Vance," Elena said, her voice cutting through the tension like crystal. "You might want to check whose signature holds the controlling voting trust of Cross Global Logistics."
