Chapter 17 - The Fall of Victoria
The emergency board meeting was called for a rainy Tuesday morning.
Victoria Vance marched into the Sterling Corporation boardroom, expecting to force a vote of no confidence against Elena.
Julian trailed behind her, looking nervous and exhausted, clutching his briefcase like a shield.
Elena was already seated at the head of the table, looking radiant and completely unbothered by the impending showdown.
"Let's get this over with," Victoria demanded, slapping her heavily redacted files onto the mahogany table.
"I move to strip Elena Sterling of her proxy duties immediately, citing gross financial misconduct."
Elena didn't even look at the files.
Instead, she slid a sleek tablet across the table toward Victoria.
"Before we vote, Victoria, I think the board would be interested in reading the expose the Wall Street Journal is publishing in exactly ten minutes," Elena said.
Victoria snatched the tablet, her arrogant expression crumbling into absolute horror as she read the headline.
Elena's investigators had uncovered a massive, systemic bribery ring orchestrated by Victoria to secure government contracts.
"This is slander!" Victoria shrieked, throwing the tablet down.
"It is fully documented, verified by three independent whistleblowers, and currently in the hands of the SEC," Elena corrected her coldly.
"Your company stock is going to freefall, Victoria, and you will likely be facing federal prison time by the end of the week."
Victoria stood frozen, her entire empire dissolving before her eyes in a matter of seconds.
Without saying a single word to Julian, Victoria turned on her heel and sprinted out of the boardroom, desperate to save herself.
Julian was left standing completely alone, staring at the empty chair beside him.
Elena pulled out Arthur's final envelope and tossed it onto the table.
"My lawyers filed this addendum an hour ago, Julian," she announced, her voice echoing with finality.
May you like
"You have no legal standing, you have no financial backing, and as of today, your father's stipend has been permanently revoked."
Julian slumped into a chair, the reality of his total and complete destruction finally breaking his mind.
