The glass doors of the Sterling Global headquarters opened into a massive, sunlit atrium filled with marble pillars and high ceilings.
Clara walked through the lobby wearing a sharp charcoal business suit, holding a leather briefcase in her right hand.
Two senior corporate executives rushed over from the elevator bank, holding tablets and legal files.
Executive 1: Good afternoon, Mrs. Sterling. The entire board of directors is assembled in Boardroom A.
Clara: Thank you, Vance. Has the forensic accounting team finished reviewing the secondary ledgers?
Executive 1: Yes, ma'am. They confirmed that over six million dollars was diverted by Richard and Margaret over the last three fiscal years.
Clara: Excellent. Present those findings to the board the moment I open the meeting.
Executive 2: Mrs. Sterling... Richard's former vice president is in there right now trying to claim the interim CEO seat.
Clara: Is he? Let's go remind him who owns seventy percent of the voting stock.
Clara stepped into the private express elevator, riding it smoothly up to the top floor of the skyscraper.
The heavy double doors of Boardroom A swung open, revealing twelve men and women in dark suits sitting around a polished mahogany table.
At the head of the table sat Gregory Vance, Richard's longtime business partner, wearing a smug smile.
Gregory: Ah, Clara. I heard you had a little family dispute at the house this morning. But this is a corporate boardroom, not a domestic court.
Clara: Stand up from my chair, Gregory.
Gregory: Your chair? You're a baker, my dear. You have no business experience or corporate authority here.
Clara set her leather briefcase on the table with a firm, solid thud, opening the brass latches with two crisp clicks.
Clara: Vance, hand everyone a copy of the emergency shareholder charter.
Vance stepped forward, placing a thick bound document in front of every board member around the table.
Clara: Paragraph four states that as sixty-five percent stock owner, I have absolute authority to replace any executive officer without prior board approval.
Gregory's smug smile vanished as he rapidly flipped through the pages of the document, his fingers trembling against the paper.
Gregory: This... this is signed by the founder! How did you get this signature?!
Clara: My late father-in-law trusted me because I was the only person in his life who didn't steal from him, Gregory.
Board Member 1: Is this document verified by the state bar association?
Executive 1: Fully verified and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as of nine o'clock this morning.
Clara: Gregory, you assisted Margaret in moving company funds through shell accounts in Delaware. Pack your desk and leave this building within fifteen minutes, or security will escort you out in handcuffs.
Gregory looked around the room at the other board members, but every single one of them lowered their eyes, refusing to make eye contact with him.
Gregory: You won't get away with this... this company will collapse without us!
Clara: This company was collapsing because of your greed, Gregory. Under my leadership, we are restoring every cent stolen from our employees' pension funds.
Gregory slammed his folder shut, grabbing his leather jacket and walking out of the boardroom in disgrace.
Clara walked to the head of the long mahogany table, pulling out the large leather CEO chair and taking her seat.
Clara: Let's get to work, everyone. We have a company to rebuild.