Chapter 4 - The Takeover
"Dad, what is happening to you?" I cried out, terrified by the sudden amount of blood soaking his clean shirt.
He leaned his head back against the seat, his skin turning a sickly shade of gray in the moonlight.
"When Vance handed me that classified folder at the wedding, the paper was coated with a transdermal synthetic toxin," he gasped.
I realized with absolute horror that the General had planned to assassinate him the moment they made physical contact.
"I need to get you to a hospital right now," I said, frantically trying to open my jammed passenger door.
"No hospitals," he wheezed, grabbing my wrist with shocking strength.
"They control the hospitals, Maisie, you have to take me to the Vanguard Defense corporate headquarters."
It took everything I had to drag him out of the smoking SUV and flag down a terrified passing motorist.
An hour later, we arrived at the towering glass skyscraper of Vanguard Defense Solutions in the heart of the city.
The private security team in the lobby recognized my father immediately from his old military files and rushed us to the secure medical wing.
While highly trained corporate doctors fought to stabilize the poison in his bloodstream, I paced the sterile hallway in my ruined wedding dress.
A sleek man in a sharp suit approached me, introducing himself as Carter, the lead legal counsel for Vanguard.
"Ms. Evans, your father's condition is critical, and we have a severe corporate crisis on our hands," Carter explained urgently.
"The board of directors is holding an emergency vote upstairs right now to seize control of your father's shares," he continued.
I realized that if they took the company, my father and I would lose the only financial protection we had against our enemies.
"I am his sole heir and hold his proxy, I will go to that meeting," I declared, tearing the useless veil off my head.
Carter nodded respectfully and escorted me to the top floor of the glittering skyscraper.
I pushed open the heavy oak doors of the boardroom, fully prepared to fight ruthless billionaire executives.
Instead, I froze completely in the doorway, staring in absolute disbelief at the head of the massive mahogany table.
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Sitting comfortably in the CEO's executive chair, holding a freshly signed legal document, was Tristan.
"I told you I was going to ruin you, Maisie," Tristan smiled maliciously.
