Chapter 15 - Digging into the Past
The boardroom of Hartley Enterprises was located on the fiftieth floor of a glass skyscraper. When the elevator doors opened, the executive assistants scrambled out of the way.
Isabella walked down the corridor, her posture radiating absolute authority. But this time, she wasn't walking alone. Amelia walked beside her, wearing a simple but clean suit Isabella had lent her. Side by side, the resemblance was terrifyingly powerful.
They pushed open the heavy oak doors of the boardroom without knocking.
Evelyn Hartley sat at the head of the long table, surrounded by twelve panicking board members. Evelyn’s face drained of color when she saw the twins standing shoulder to shoulder.
"Isabella, what is the meaning of this?" Evelyn demanded, standing up. "Security is supposed to keep unauthorized personnel out."
"Amelia is not unauthorized," Isabella stated coldly. She walked up to the table, slamming a thick legal folder onto the glass surface. "I spent the morning with my lawyers. Amelia is recognized as the legitimate daughter of Jonathan Hartley. By law, she is entitled to fifty percent of his original estate, which includes your controlling shares of this company."
The board members began whispering frantically.
"You would destroy this company out of spite?" Evelyn hissed, her eyes darting between the girls.
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"You destroyed this family out of greed," Amelia countered smoothly. "We are just cleaning up the mess."
"Step down, Grandmother," Isabella said, her voice completely devoid of the deference she had shown for thirty years. "Resign effectively immediately, or we will take this to criminal court. Kidnapping, fraud, embezzlement... the lawyers were very creative. You will spend your final years in a federal prison."
