Chapter 10 – Boardroom Ambush
The top-floor conference room of Aria Global was dead silent at nine o'clock the following morning.
Victoria Vance sat at the head of the long marble table, dressed in a tailored crimson suit, her gray-streaked hair swept back with razor precision. Flanking her were two corporate attorneys and a lead broker from Vanguard Crest.
"You look remarkably like Eleanor," Victoria said without looking up from her tea as Ethan entered. "Though she was always far too weak to hold what belonged to her."
Ethan pulled out a chair opposite her, setting his leather briefcase flat on the table without unbuckling the clasps. "My mother wasn't weak, Victoria. She was murdered by Arthur, with your quiet assistance."
Victoria let out a cold, sharp laugh. "A poetic theory. But the statute of limitations on thirty-year-old allegations has long expired. What hasn't expired is my legal claim to the foundational equity of this firm. As Eleanor's sole surviving blood sibling with proof of unfulfilled maternal loan agreements, I hold forty-five percent voting power through Vanguard's morning acquisitions."
She slid a thick stack of surrender documents across the marble.
"Sign the majority voting proxy over to Vanguard Crest. You can keep a nominal salary and title. Refuse, and I dump seventy million shares into the open market by noon, triggering automated margin calls that will bankrupt Aria Global before sunset."
Ethan didn't reach for the pen. Instead, he opened his briefcase and pulled out a single digital drive and an official blue folder stamped with the seal of the International Criminal Police Organization.
"You spent thirty years laundering Eleanor's trust funds through shell banks in Zurich," Ethan said, his voice level and ice-cold. "Arthur protected you because you were paying kickbacks directly into Derek’s offshore accounts. But when Derek went to prison, he took a plea deal."
Victoria’s calm demeanor flickered. "Derek knows nothing."
"Derek had your complete ledger stored on a hard drive in his penthouse safe," Ethan replied, sliding the Interpol warrant across the table. "He traded you to shave eight years off his sentence."
The heavy oak doors of the boardroom swung open. Four federal agents, accompanied by the state district attorney, stepped into the room.
"Victoria Vance," the lead agent announced, flashing his badge. "You are under arrest for cross-border financial fraud, conspiracy to commit murder, and interstate racketeering."
Victoria stared at the warrant, the color draining from her face just as it had from Arthur and Derek months before. She looked up at Ethan, her hands trembling as the agents moved in with handcuffs.
"This empire was built on blood, Ethan!" she hissed as she was pulled from her seat. "You can't wash it clean!"
May you like
Ethan stood tall, watching her being led away through the double doors.
"We already did," Ethan said quietly.
