Chapter 9 - The Gala Showdown
The emergency fire suppression system soaked the boardroom in thick, heavy chemical foam.
Through the chaotic video feed, I watched the mistress drop her gold pen in absolute shock.
The board members scrambled toward the exits as the alarms blared endlessly through the building.
The hostile takeover was temporarily delayed, but I knew I needed to end this war tonight.
Core Dynamics was hosting its annual charity gala in the grand ballroom of a luxury downtown hotel.
It was the perfect public stage to finally reveal the truth and reclaim my stolen empire.
Chloe helped me change into a stunning emerald green gown that draped perfectly over my cast.
My security team loaded my motorized wheelchair into the back of our armored transport vehicle.
We arrived at the hotel just as the wealthy elite of Chicago were finishing their expensive dinners.
I bypassed the main entrance and used my VIP credentials to enter through the backstage service doors.
I positioned my wheelchair perfectly in the dark shadows just behind the heavy velvet stage curtains.
Arthur Thorne was standing at the podium, nervously trying to calm the crowd of panicked investors.
He confidently lied to the audience, claiming that the company was financially secure and stronger than ever.
The mistress stood elegantly by his side, smiling as if she already owned the entire world.
Suddenly, the main ballroom doors violently burst open, silencing the entire room instantly.
Julian staggered down the center aisle, looking completely battered, bruised, and absolutely deranged.
His expensive suit was torn to shreds, and he was wildly waving a thick stack of printed emails.
Julian screamed that Arthur and the mistress had framed him and hired the hitman to kill me.
He begged the crowd to believe that he was the true victim of a massive corporate conspiracy.
The mistress stepped up to the microphone and smoothly told the guards to remove the crazy man.
Julian fought off the security guards and screamed for the mysterious owner of Aurora Capital to save him.
He promised to pledge his eternal loyalty to the hidden billionaire if they would just spare his life.
I signaled the audio technician to cut the microphone power and turn all the spotlights toward the stage.
The massive velvet curtains slowly parted, revealing me sitting silently in my emerald gown.
I rolled my wheelchair forward until I was completely illuminated by the brilliant white stage lights.
Julian froze in the center aisle, his mouth hanging open as he stared directly at my face.
Arthur Thorne dropped his glass of champagne, letting it shatter loudly against the wooden stage floor.
The entire ballroom erupted into chaotic whispers as everyone recognized the injured baker from the news.
I leaned toward the microphone and told Julian that his request for salvation was officially denied.
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Eleanor Vance suddenly pushed her way through the crowd, pointing a trembling finger at my chest.
She screamed that I was a fraud, and she pulled a small silver pistol from her designer handbag.
