Chapter 7 - The Grand Boardroom
The Sterling Capital building was a monument to wealth and power.
Richard,
Eleanor,
and Leo stepped out of the elevator onto the top floor.
Their cheap,
outdated clothes stood out against the sleek,
modern decor.
Every employee that walked past them radiated success,
making the Millers feel even smaller.
The receptionist,
flawless and polite,
guided them to the grand boardroom.
It was a massive room with a long mahogany table and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
"The CEO will be with you shortly,"
she said,
closing the heavy glass doors behind them.
The room was completely silent.
Leo paced nervously,
wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Look at this place,"
he muttered,
awe and jealousy in his voice.
"Whoever runs this could wipe out our debt with pocket change."
"Remember your manners,
Leo,"
Eleanor hissed,
fixing his collar.
"We need to beg if we have to,
do not let your pride ruin this."
Richard sat rigidly in one of the leather chairs,
staring at the empty seat at the head of the table.
They waited for ten minutes.
Then twenty.
The silence grew heavy,
thick with anxiety.
Finally,
the door handle clicked.
The three of them stood up instantly,
holding their breath,
ready to grovel to an old,
powerful billionaire.
The doors opened slowly.
Footsteps clicked against the polished marble floor.
A woman walked in.
She wore a sharp,
tailored navy suit,
her hair pulled back into a sleek,
flawless style.
Her posture was perfect,
radiating absolute,
terrifying authority.
She walked to the head of the table,
holding a gold-embossed folder.
Richard gasped,
stumbling backward.
Eleanor covered her mouth,
her eyes wide with pure shock.
Leo froze,
his jaw dropping as the color drained from his face.
"Hello,
family,"
Clara Miller said,
her voice smooth as glass,
cold as ice.
She tossed the gold-embossed folder onto the mahogany table.
It was the exact same type of folder Leo had held the night she was thrown out.
"Clara?"
Richard whispered,
his voice trembling,
unable to process the reality in front of him.
"It cannot be,"
Eleanor muttered,
shaking her head in denial.
Clara sat down at the head of the table,
crossing her legs gracefully.
She leaned forward,
folding her hands.
"I believe you requested a meeting with the CEO of Apex Holdings,"
she smiled,
a smile devoid of any warmth.
"Welcome to my firm."
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The silence in the room was deafening.
The shattering realization of what they were facing finally crashed down on the Miller family.
