Chapter 14 - The Board Meeting
Marcus’s legal troubles were only half of his punishment. The other half was the utter annihilation of his professional legacy.
Three days after the disastrous wedding, the Board of Directors for Sterling Enterprises held an emergency meeting. Because of the ongoing merger negotiations, my family’s trust had already secured a massive 51% voting block in their company—a detail Marcus had intended to exploit after the marriage. Instead, it became the noose around his neck.
I did not attend the meeting in person. I attended via a secure video conference link from the penthouse, sitting directly beside my father and Vivian.
On the screen, twelve older, terrified executives sat around a massive oak table. Marcus’s father, Charles, sat at the head, looking haggard and desperate.
"We need to stabilize the stock price," Charles pleaded to the board. "Marcus’s personal legal issues should not reflect on the integrity of this company!"
"Mr. Sterling," I interrupted, my voice projecting loudly into the boardroom via the speakers.
The entire board flinched, turning their attention to the massive monitor displaying my face.
"Marcus’s legal issues are not 'personal'," I stated, my tone unyielding. "He used company servers to route embezzled funds from my family’s trust. He used company assets to fund his offshore accounts. This board is complicit by sheer negligence."
Charles’s face turned an ugly shade of purple. "You cannot prove that, Clara! You are trying to hostilely take over my company!"
"I don't need to try, Charles," I replied coldly. "I already have. As the representative of the majority voting block, I am initiating an immediate vote of no confidence. Marcus Sterling is hereby permanently terminated from his position as CEO, effective immediately. And Charles, you are removed as Chairman."
"You can't do this!" Charles shouted, standing up.
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"It's already done," my father added, leaning into the frame. "Clean out your desks. The Vance family is liquidating the assets."
I reached out and clicked the End Call button, severing the connection. I closed my laptop with a satisfying snap. The Sterling empire was officially dead.
