Chapter 8 - The Empire
February 12th. Leo’s sixth birthday.
The Vanguard Real Estate Group occupied the top three floors of a towering glass skyscraper in downtown Chicago. At 9:00 AM, the board of directors sat around a massive mahogany table, murmuring nervously. They had been loyal to Mark, turning a blind eye to his aggressive financial maneuvers.
The glass doors to the boardroom swung open.
Jillian Vance walked in. She wasn't wearing a military uniform or a courtroom suit. She wore a tailored designer dress, exuding absolute, terrifying power. Behind her walked a team of five corporate lawyers and two armed security contractors.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” Jillian said, taking the seat at the head of the table—Mark’s old seat.
The Chairman of the Board cleared his throat. “Mrs. Vance. We... we weren't expecting you.”
“As of midnight last night, my son turned six,” Jillian said, her voice smooth as glass. “According to the founding trust documents, I am now the sole controller of the Vanguard portfolio, holding eighty percent of the voting shares.”
She slid a thick stack of folders across the polished wood.
“These are your severance packages,” Jillian stated. “Every single one of you who approved Mark’s fraudulent wire transfers without initiating an audit is terminated, effective immediately. If any of you contest this, my lawyers will turn your emails over to the SEC for criminal prosecution.”
The men stared at the folders in stunned silence. They had underestimated the soldier.
May you like
Jillian stood up. “You have ten minutes to clear out your desks. Security will escort you out.”
She walked out of the room, leaving the remnants of Mark’s corrupt empire in ashes.
