Chapter 9 - The Glass Boardroom
The top floor of Vance Towers overlooked the sprawling metropolis beneath a canopy of leaden storm clouds. Inside the panoramic boardroom, thirty executives sat around a massive obsidian conference table.
Victoria stood at the head of the table, commanding the room. She was clad in an austere cream-colored power suit, her hair pulled back into a severe, elegant chignon. She held a stack of legal affidavits, dabbing at fictitious tears with a lace handkerchief.
""My brother-in-law has suffered a complete psychiatric breakdown,"" Victoria announced, her voice echoing through the state-of-the-art microphones. ""Following the intruder attack at his home last night, he murdered two individuals and fled with an unidentified domestic worker, abandoning his duties. As Clara’s twin sister and Leo’s guardian, I must accept the burden of the executive chair.""
Old man Henderson, the senior-most shareholder, adjusted his spectacles skeptically. ""Julian built this empire's maritime logistics from scratch, Victoria. We cannot simply strip him of voting rights based on unilateral medical reports.""
""Dr. Marcus Cole has already certified his unfitness,"" Victoria countered smoothly, placing a signed document onto the projector. ""All I require is your signature on the transitional charter. For the sake of the company. For Clara’s legacy.""
Henderson reached for his fountain pen, his hand hovering over the dotted line.
Suddenly, the heavy double oak doors of the boardroom were blown off their magnetic latches with a concussive bang. Two private security guards were thrown skidding across the polished floorboards.
Julian strode into the room, his charcoal suit dusted with powder residue, his eyes burning with predatory focus.
""Step away from my chair, Victoria,"" Julian's voice cracked across the room like thunder.
Victoria staggered backward against the glass wall, but recovered her haughty sneer within seconds. ""Julian! Security, apprehend him! He is criminally insane and armed!""
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""Let them try,"" Julian said, as Clara walked into the boardroom beside him, holding young Leo firmly by the hand. Clara took off her oversized dark sunglasses, looking straight into the eyes of every board member she had known for a decade.
The room gasped in collective horror. It was as though a ghost had walked into the daylight.
