The sun rose over the glass skyscraper of Sterling Enterprises, but inside the executive boardroom, the mood was pitch black. Seven senior board members sat around the massive oval table, speaking in hushed, panicked whispers.
Board Member 1: Have you seen the morning news? The video of Richard is everywhere!
Board Member 2: The stock is already down twenty percent in pre-market trading. If he's charged with felony assault, the company is finished.
Board Member 1: Where is his lawyer? Why isn't anyone handling the press?
The heavy doors of the boardroom swung open. Claire walked in, wearing a sharp black tailored suit. A white bandage covered her left temple, but her eyes were bright and her posture was commandingly upright. Marcus followed right behind her, carrying two thick stacks of legal files.
Board Member 1: Claire? What are you doing here? This is a private board meeting for shareholders.
Claire: I know where I am, Arthur. Sit down.
Board Member 2: Look, Claire, we are very sorry about what happened last night. Richard's behavior was appalling. But this is business. You can't just walk into a corporate board meeting.
Claire: Marcus, hand them the updated share registry.
Marcus placed a crisp document in front of each board member. The men quickly flipped through the pages, their expressions turning from annoyance to total shock.
Board Member 1: This... this can't be right. Fifty-two percent?
Claire: As of midnight, the default on the 2020 loan triggered the immediate transfer of Richard's pledged shares to the Vance Estate. Combined with my personal holdings, I control fifty-two percent of voting shares in Sterling Enterprises.
Board Member 2: That's a hostile takeover! You can't do this without a board vote!
Claire: I don't need a vote. I have the majority. And my first action as majority shareholder is to remove Richard Sterling as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
Board Member 1: Claire, please, think about the company! Richard built this entire public expansion!
Claire: Richard embezzled five million dollars from your expansion fund to cover his private gambling debts in Macau. Would you like to see the wire transfers?
Marcus slid a second set of bank statements across the table. The board members stared at the numbers, dead silence filling the room.
Board Member 2: My God... he stole from the core capital fund?
Claire: He was going to use my trust fund to cover his tracks last night. When I refused to sign his illegal transfer papers, he smashed a plate over my head.
Board Member 1: That fool... he ruined all of us.
Claire: He didn't ruin you. He ruined himself. You have two choices today, gentlemen. You can support my appointment as interim CEO, or you can go down with him when the federal prosecutors take his case.
Board Member 2: Federal prosecutors? Is the SEC involved?
Claire: They will be by noon. Unless we cooperate fully and present a clean board to the public before the market opens.
The men exchanged desperate glances. Arthur, the oldest member on the board, took off his glasses and let out a long sigh.
Board Member 1: What do you want us to do, Claire?
Claire: Vote to remove Richard. Authorize a full forensic audit. And release a statement declaring that the company stands entirely with the victim of domestic abuse.
Board Member 2: And what about the public offering?
Claire: We pause it. We clean the books. And we rebuild this company without a single Sterling man on the payroll.
Board Member 1: All in favor of appointing Claire Vance-Sterling as CEO, raise your hand.
Every single hand at the table went up slowly. Claire smiled, placing her hands flat on the cold mahogany table.
Claire: Meeting adjourned. Marcus, call the police department. I want to pay my husband a visit in his cell.