Part 10
The emergency board meeting lasted for three hours.
By the time I left the building, the corporate structure had been completely reorganized, the merger with Harrington Luxe was permanently canceled, and a public relations team was already managing the narrative to protect the company's stock price.
The official story would be simple: Vale International had uncovered an external fraud attempt and successfully neutralized it before any damage could be done to investor capital.
When I stepped into the elevator, the exhaustion finally began to creep into my bones.
The adrenaline that had kept me warm in the snow and sharp in the boardroom was finally fading.
"You did exceptionally well, Ms. Vale," Marcus said as the elevator descended. "Your father would be incredibly proud of you."
"Thank you, Marcus," I said, looking at my reflection in the polished metal doors. "I couldn't have done it without you."
"I was just following orders," Marcus replied with a humble nod. "The extraction team reports that the twins are awake and doing well. They’ve just been fed."
A wave of maternal warmth washed over me, erasing the lingering coldness of the betrayal.
My children.
They were the only thing that mattered now.
They would grow up with the Vale name, protected by the legacy their grandfather had built, and they would never have to worry about the shadows of Thomas Vance’s past.
When we reached the lobby, a crowd of reporters had already gathered outside the glass facade, alerted by the sudden police presence earlier.
Flashbulbs erupted against the windows like heat lightning.
"We can use the underground exit, Ms. Vale," Marcus suggested, moving to block the view.
"No," I said, stopping him. "Open the front doors."
Marcus looked surprised for a fraction of a second, then nodded. "As you wish."
The security guards opened the massive glass doors, and the roar of the city and the shouting of reporters flooded the lobby.
I stepped out into the crisp winter air, the snow having finally stopped falling.
The sun was bright, reflecting off the white ground, blindingly beautiful.
"Ms. Vale! Is it true the merger is off?"
"Ms. Vale! Comment on the arrest of your husband!"
"Is Vale International in financial danger?"
I stopped at the top of the steps, looking out at the crowd of microphones and cameras.
I didn't run. I didn't hide my face.
"Vale International has never been stronger," I announced, my voice clear and carrying over the noise of the crowd. "The fraud has been removed. The legacy is secure. And as the Chairman, I assure you that our future is brighter than it has ever been."
I walked down the steps, the reporters parting for me like the Red Sea, Marcus’s team ensuring a flawless path to the waiting vehicle.
I got into the car, looking out at the city one last time before the door closed.
The storm had passed.
May you like
The air was clear.
And for the first time in a very long time, I was completely free.
