Chapter 5 - THE CORPORATE PURGEThree days later, at 9:00 AM, the glass double doors of Sterling Global Industries slid open.
When I walked into the executive boardroom—wearing a sharp, charcoal-gray suit, my hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail, and walking without any assistive gear—the seven senior board members hand-picked by Victoria sat in paralyzed silence.
They had spent the last week trying to distance themselves from Victoria’s arrest, quietly shredding documents in their offices.
I took my seat at the absolute head of the massive mahogany table—the chair Daniel’s father had built the empire from.
"Good morning, gentlemen," I said, my voice rich, clear, and commanding every corner of the room.
Chief Executive Officer Richard Thorne—Victoria’s primary co-conspirator—cleared his throat nervously, attempting a fake, greasy smile. "Ah... Sarah. Welcome back. We were deeply saddened by the tragic misunderstandings with Victoria. We're eager to help you transition smoothly back into—"
"Save your breath, Richard," I interrupted, sliding thick forensic accounting ledgers across the table toward each of them.
Richard’s eyes darted down to the open page. His face turned the color of curdled milk.
"Every wire transfer, every kickback scheme, and every falsified compliance report you signed off on to cover up Victoria's embezzlement is documented right here on this drive," I stated evenly, resting my hands on the table. "You have sixty seconds to sign your immediate resignations and forfeit all stock options. If you aren't out of this building by 9:02 AM, you'll be joining Victoria in federal custody before noon."
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It took Richard exactly twelve seconds to grab a gold fountain pen and sign his name with a trembling hand.
The remaining six board members scrambled to sign theirs even faster.
