Chapter 7 - The Hostile Takeover
Monday morning. The financial district of Manhattan was drowning in rain, a fitting pathetic fallacy for the bloodbath happening on the trading floors.
Sterling Enterprises' stock had plummeted by 85% in opening trading. The SEC had raided their lower-level offices at dawn. Panic was absolute.
At exactly 9:00 AM, the glass doors of the Sterling Enterprises executive penthouse slid open. Clara Sterling walked in. She was no longer wearing the revenge dress. Today, she wore a razor-sharp charcoal power suit, her hair pulled back into a severe, immaculate bun. Behind her walked a phalanx of six high-powered corporate litigators, carrying briefcases thick with legal doom.
The receptionist, a young woman who looked like she was on the verge of tears, stood up. "Mrs. Sterling... I... Mr. Sterling said you aren't allowed up here."
"I own the building, Sarah. It's fine," Clara said gently, bypassing the desk and walking straight toward the massive double doors of the CEO's office.
She didn't knock. She pushed the doors open.
Julian was pacing behind his massive oak desk, screaming into his phone. "I don't care what the interest rate is! Just give me the bridge loan! ...Hello? Hello?!" He slammed the phone down, looking up at Clara with bloodshot, exhausted eyes. He clearly hadn't slept since the gala.
"Get out of my office, Clara," Julian growled, though there was no heat behind it. Just exhaustion.
"It's not your office anymore, Julian," Clara said, taking a seat on the leather sofa, crossing her legs. Her lawyers fanned out, placing stacks of documents on his desk.
"What is this?" Julian asked, staring at the paper mountain.
"This is your surrender," Clara stated smoothly. "Obsidian Holdings has officially triggered the default clauses on all your debts. Furthermore, I have spent the weekend purchasing the remaining voting shares from your board of directors. They were remarkably eager to sell, given the impending federal indictments."
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"You bought the board?" Julian whispered, collapsing into his chair.
"I bought everyone," Clara corrected. "I own sixty-eight percent of Sterling Enterprises. I am executing a hostile takeover. You are being officially ousted as CEO, effective immediately."
