Chapter 4 - The Boardroom Coup
The corporate headquarters of Sterling Enterprises was a towering skyscraper of glass and steel.
Ethan and Hannah strode through the massive lobby with purpose.
Security guards immediately stepped aside to let them pass.
Hannah wore a sharp black blazer draped over her shoulders.
It cleverly hid her heavily bandaged hand.
She walked with her head held high, refusing to show any weakness.
They stepped into the private executive elevator.
Ethan pressed the button for the top floor.
"Are you ready for this?" Ethan asked, looking at her with deep concern.
"I am not going to let her win," Hannah replied firmly.
"Not after everything she put me through."
The elevator doors chimed and slid open.
The executive boardroom was a massive space with a long mahogany table.
Twelve members of the board of directors were already seated.
At the head of the table sat a man they had never seen before.
He was wearing a perfectly tailored charcoal gray suit.
He had slicked-back silver hair and a cold, calculating smile.
"Ah, Ethan," the strange man said smoothly.
"We were just about to begin without you."
Ethan walked straight up to the table, ignoring the empty chairs.
"Who the hell are you?" Ethan demanded loudly.
"And what are you doing in my father's chair?"
The man chuckled softly, tapping a gold pen against the table.
"My name is Victor Vance," he introduced himself.
"I am the CEO of Vance Global."
"And as of this morning, I am the majority shareholder of Sterling Enterprises."
A collective gasp rippled through the room from the other board members.
Ethan slammed his hands down onto the heavy wooden table.
"That is impossible," Ethan growled.
"Beatrice's shares are currently frozen by a federal mandate."
"You cannot legally acquire them."
Victor smiled like a predator cornering its prey.
"I didn't buy Beatrice's shares, Ethan."
"I bought the debt."
Victor slid a thick manila folder across the table toward Ethan.
"For the past year, your dear stepmother has been taking out massive corporate loans."
"She used the company's core assets as collateral."
"Loans she purposely defaulted on."
"My firm bought that debt from the banks at three in the morning."
Hannah realized the horrifying truth instantly.
"You are the one who bailed her out," Hannah stated loudly.
Every eye in the room turned to look at her.
Victor's smile widened as he looked at Hannah.
"You must be the famous Hannah," Victor mocked smoothly.
"Beatrice told me you were quite the nuisance."
"It is a shame you didn't just pack up and leave when she told you to."
Ethan stepped protectively in front of Hannah.
"You are not taking this company, Victor," Ethan stated.
"Those loans were taken out fraudulently."
"Beatrice forged my signature on every single document."
"We have the forensic evidence to prove it."
Victor leaned back in the luxurious leather chair.
"Fraud takes years to prove in civil court, Ethan."
"By the time a judge rules in your favor, I will have dismantled this company."
"I will sell it off piece by piece to the highest bidder."
Victor stood up and buttoned his suit jacket.
"The board has already voted."
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"You are hereby removed as President of Sterling Enterprises."
"Security will escort you both out of the building."
