Chapter 5 - The Monday Morning Bloodbath
At 8:00 AM on Monday, the financial news networks erupted.
SCANDAL AT VANGUARD HOLDINGS! ILLEGITIMATE HEIR CLAIMS FORTUNE! STOCK PLUMMETS 15% IN PRE-MARKET TRADING!
Julian Thorne sat in the Vanguard Holdings boardroom, a smug, victorious smile on his face. He sat at the head of the long oak table, surrounded by the board members he had bribed and manipulated. Beside him sat Arthur, looking nervous but resolute.
"The stock is in freefall," Julian announced to the board. "Vivienne Vanguard has hidden an illegitimate heir to hoard this company's wealth. Her leadership is compromised. I move for an immediate vote of no confidence and the installation of myself as interim CEO."
The heavy boardroom doors swung open.
Vivienne walked in. She wore a pristine white suit—the color of a ghost, or an angel of death. She carried a single manila folder.
"There will be no vote today, gentlemen," Vivienne said, her voice echoing with absolute, unquestionable authority.
"You don't have the authority to stop a board vote, Vivienne," Arthur spoke up, trying to sound authoritative but failing miserably under her piercing gaze. "Your reign is over."
Vivienne walked slowly to the table, ignoring Julian entirely. She stopped behind Arthur’s leather chair.
"Arthur," Vivienne purred, leaning down to whisper in his ear. "Did you really think I wouldn't check the digital footprints on the server? Did you think a cheap burner phone and a Swiss bank account would hide your treason?"
Arthur went completely pale. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Vivienne opened the manila folder and tossed a stack of documents onto the center of the table.
"These are the wire transfers between Arthur Sterling and Julian Thorne," Vivienne announced to the terrified board. "Corporate espionage. Fraud. And here..." She tossed a second stack of papers. "...are the routing numbers proving that Mr. Thorne’s takeover capital is funded entirely by the Kozlov arms syndicate."
Julian stood up, his chair scraping violently against the floor. "That's a forgery!"
"The FBI doesn't think so," Vivienne said, checking her diamond-encrusted watch. "They are currently raiding your offices, Julian. Your assets are frozen. You are bankrupt. And Arthur... you are fired."
The silence in the boardroom was absolute. The titans of industry shrank back in their chairs, realizing they had aligned themselves with a dead man.
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Julian glared at her, his fists clenched. "You haven't won, Vivienne. The paternity suit is still public. The stock is still crashing. Elena will take half your fortune."
Vivienne smiled. "Elena is currently on my private jet, flying to Paris. It's amazing what a twenty-million-dollar trust fund can do to clear up a family misunderstanding. She withdrew the suit an hour ago."
