Chapter 22 - The Marble Halls
The black armored SUV pulled up to the towering glass skyscraper in the heart of the financial district.
Beatriz stepped out, her heels clicking sharply against the polished granite of the plaza. She wore an immaculate, tailored crimson suit that commanded attention and radiated authority. Flanked by her loyal security detail, she walked through the revolving glass doors.
The bustling lobby of Monteiro Enterprises instantly fell silent. Employees, executives, and receptionists all paused, parting like the sea to let her through. They looked at her with a mixture of profound respect and healthy fear.
"Good morning, Ms. Monteiro,"
The head of security greeted her with a deep nod.
"Morning, Thomas. Is the boardroom prepared?"
She asked, not breaking her confident stride.
"Yes, ma'am. The board of directors is already seated and waiting for you,"
He replied, pressing the button for the private executive elevator.
May you like
Beatriz stepped inside and watched the numbers climb to the fiftieth floor. She remembered a time, not so long ago, when she would walk into this building feeling like an imposter. Eduardo’s father had made sure of that, constantly undermining her, whispering that a woman of her background had no place managing a billion-dollar portfolio.
But Eduardo’s father was gone, forced into early retirement after Beatriz exposed his rampant embezzlement. And Eduardo himself was nothing but a banished ghost. As the elevator doors chimed and slid open, Beatriz adjusted her lapel. She was no longer the frightened girl who broke glass to escape a locked room. She was the architect of their ruin.
