Chapter 12 - The Grand Stage
The Grand Sovereign Hotel was swarming with corporate elites, media cameras, and private security guards wearing Vance Enterprises lapel pins. The annual summit was the biggest financial event of the year, designed to cement Evelyn Vance’s iron grip over the multi-billion-dollar merger with a global logistics conglomerate.
Inside the grand ballroom, hundreds of investors sat beneath massive crystal chandeliers, drinking champagne and flipping through glossy prospectuses. On the elevated main stage sat the board of directors, flanked by enormous digital screens broadcasting the corporate logo. In the center sat Evelyn Vance, draped in an immaculate cream-colored Chanel suit, looking every bit the ruthless matriarch. Beside her sat Elena, looking pristine, elegant, and entirely unbothered, reviewing her speech notes on a leather folio. There was no sign of guilt on her face; the world belonged to her, and the police had already been silenced by Sterling’s legal machinery.
David slipped through the service entrance using an old executive access badge he had retained from his time on the board. He avoided the front security checkpoint where Sterling’s guards were posted. Making his way through the backstage corridors, he located the audiovisual control booth overlooking the ballroom.
Inside the booth, a young technician was monitoring the slide transitions on a bank of monitors. David stepped inside quietly, locking the soundproof door behind him.
""Excuse me, sir, this area is restricted—"" the technician started, turning around.
David pulled out his executive board ID and placed it firmly on the console, his cold demeanor brooking no argument. ""I am David Vance, majority shareholder trustee. Unplug the presentation laptop right now and insert this drive.""
The technician recognized the Vance name instantly and swallowed hard, looking at the raw fury burning in David’s eyes. ""Sir, your mother gave specific instructions regarding the presentation deck—""
""My mother is about to be arrested for conspiracy to commit murder,"" David said in a low, terrifyingly calm voice. ""Do you want to be named as an accessory after the fact, or do you want to keep your career?""
The technician’s hands trembled as he accepted the flash drive, slotting it into the master broadcasting switcher.
May you like
Down below, the chime rang out over the public address system. The master of ceremonies stepped to the podium. ""Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the future Chief Executive Officer of Vance Global, Ms. Elena Vance.""
Applause erupted across the ballroom as Elena stood up, offering a dazzling, predatory smile to the cameras.
