Chapter 3 - The Shadow of the Board
The news of the assassination attempt didn't stay private for long. Within forty-eight hours, the stock of Sterling Tech had plunged. The board of directors, sensing blood in the water, began whispering about "leadership transitions" and "interim CEOs."
Arthur sat in his private office, surrounded by the vultures. They were men in thousand-dollar suits who spoke of "fiscal responsibility" while eyeing his chair.
"Arthur," the chairman, a man named Sterling’s own brother-in-law, Marcus, began. "Given the... complications, the board feels it would be best for you to step aside for a period of mental health evaluation."
It was a trap. They were using Julianne’s attempted poisoning as a pretext to declare him incompetent. They wanted his shares. They wanted his legacy.
Arthur leaned back, his eyes scanning the room. He saw the shift in their shoulders, the way they looked at each other. He saw everything.
He signaled to Elara, who was sitting in the corner with a tablet. He had requested she attend, not as an assistant, but as his observer.
Tell me what they’re saying, he signed.
Elara’s fingers moved, fast and precise. Marcus is lying. He paid Julianne’s legal fees. He knew about the tablets. He’s the one who suggested Vance.
Arthur’s blood ran cold. He had suspected Marcus was opportunistic, but betrayal of this magnitude? It was a tectonic shift.
He looked at Marcus, his face a mask of calculated indifference. "Mental health evaluation, Marcus? That’s a bold move, considering you were the one who recommended Dr. Vance to me two years ago."
The room went silent. Marcus didn't blink. "I don't know what you're talking about, Arthur. You’re clearly confused."
He’s wearing a wire, Elara signed, her hands hidden beneath the table so only Arthur could see. The secretary is recording this for the press.
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Arthur stood up, his presence suddenly massive, the old lion roaring back to life. "I am not confused, Marcus. I am very, very clear. And I’m going to make sure the entire world sees exactly how clear I am."
He turned to the exit, Elara at his heel. He didn't have a plan for the company, but he had something better: he had the truth. And in the world of high-stakes corporate warfare, the truth was a nuclear weapon.
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