Chapter 15 - The Boardroom Ambush
The emergency shareholder meeting was held on the top floor of the Pendelton Building on a stormy Thursday morning.
Arthur sat at the head of the polished mahogany conference table, surrounded by twelve senior partners and board members. He looked supremely confident, holding a gold fountain pen, ready to sign the paperwork that would transfer my father's fifteen percent stock to his personal trust.
"We are all saddened by the domestic circumstances surrounding the Vance estate," Arthur announced smoothly to the room. "To protect our corporate standing, Claire Vance has agreed to liquidate her family shares to cover the financial liabilities incurred by her former husband."
He slid the stock transfer contract across the long table toward me.
"Sign here, my dear," Arthur said with a warm, patronizing nod. "And let us put this unfortunate chapter behind us."
I looked down at the contract. Then I looked up at Arthur, letting a slow, deliberate smile touch my lips.
"I won't be signing that, Arthur," I said clearly.
The room went completely silent. Several partners exchanged confused glances.
Arthur’s eyes narrowed. "Claire, we discussed this. If you don't clear Daniel's debt, the federal prosecutors will freeze the entire estate."
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"Daniel's debt has already been paid in full," I replied, standing up and opening my briefcase. "And as for the federal prosecutors... they aren't looking at Daniel anymore."
I tapped a button on the conference room remote. The massive digital screens on the wall flickered to life.
