Chapter 3 - The Boardroom Coup
By 8:00 AM the following morning, news of the incident at the Bennett mezzanine had begun to ripple through the upper echelons of high society. Victoria had spent the dawn hours attempting damage control, calling public relations firms and threatening media editors. However, she severely underestimated her son.
Julian walked into Bennett Holdings headquarters dressed not in his bespoke suits, but in a plain button-down shirt and dark slacks. He bypassed the executive reception and entered the boardroom where the quarterly shareholders' meeting was already underway.
Victoria sat at the head of the long mahogany table, flanked by corporate attorneys. Her posture was rigid, but the dark circles beneath her eyes betrayed her panic.
"Julian," Victoria said, projecting effortless authority. "You are late for the executive briefing."
Julian did not sit. Instead, he placed a manila folder in the center of the conference table and tapped it once. "I am not here for a briefing. I am here to submit my immediate resignation as Chief Operating Officer, alongside a formal disclosure to the ethics board."
Gasps rippled across the room. Several board members leaned forward, reaching for copies of the documents.
"You wouldn't dare," Victoria hissed under her breath.
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"Inside that folder are records detailing your unauthorized redirection of trust funds, and evidence of the private investigators you paid to falsify Lily's paternity," Julian said clearly, his voice carrying to every corner of the room. "The board can decide whether they want a criminal at the helm."
Without waiting for a response, Julian turned on his heel and walked out.
