CHAPTER 2 — The Fall Begins
CHAPTER 2 — The Fall Begins
The boardroom fell silent the moment I walked in.
Twenty-two executives rose to their feet.
"Good evening, Ms. Ward."
The greeting echoed through the room.
Daniel stood frozen in the doorway.
His security badge had already been deactivated.
"This has to be a mistake," he muttered.
The chairman calmly adjusted his glasses.
"No, Mr. Brooks."
He slid a folder across the polished conference table.
"Your dismissal became effective seventeen minutes ago."
Daniel stared at the document.
His signature still appeared on the previous quarterly report.
The title beneath it no longer existed.
Chief Executive Officer.
Gone.
His hands trembled.
"I built this company."
"No," I answered quietly.
"You managed it."
"I built it."
The room remained perfectly still.
One by one, the board members pushed new contracts across the table.
Each carried only one name.
Elena Ward.
The new Executive Chairwoman.
Daniel looked around desperately.
No one defended him.
Not one voice.
Because every person in that room knew the truth.
They always had.
They had simply respected my decision to remain in the shadows.
Until now.
"Escort Mr. Brooks out."
Two security officers stepped forward.
Daniel turned toward me one last time.
"You planned this."
I shook my head.
"No."
"You planned your own downfall."
The elevator doors closed.
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For the first time in years...
The corporation belonged to the person who had always owned it.
