Chapter 7 - THE SHADOW IN THE BOARDROOMTwo days later, Ethan sat at the head of the mahogany table in the Crestline Automotive executive suite in Seattle. The meeting was supposed to be a routine review of European supply chains, but the atmosphere in the room felt heavy, almost claustrophobic.
His chief of staff, Daniel Price, slid a manila folder across the table toward him.
"What is this?" Ethan asked, not breaking eye contact with the head of logistics.
"Look at page four," Daniel murmured, his face tight with concern.
Ethan opened the folder. Inside were corporate registration documents, land deeds, and financial wire transfers originating from a shell company registered in the Cayman Islands.
"A hostile acquisition," Ethan said, narrowing his eyes. "Who's behind the shell?"
"That's the problem, Ethan," Daniel replied grimly. "It's not a standard corporate raider. The entity buying up our Tier-1 component suppliers in Oregon and Washington is controlled by the Vance Group."
Ethan’s blood ran cold. The Vance Group.
Jonathan Vance.
May you like
Jonathan Vance wasn't just a ruthless corporate tycoon; he was Maya’s estranged uncle—a man who had disowned her mother decades ago for marrying outside their elite social circle, and a man who despised Ethan with a burning passion after Crestline beat out Vance Industries for a massive federal transit contract two years prior.
"They're not just trying to bankrupt Crestline," Ethan realized with sudden, terrifying clarity. "They're targeting Maya."
