Chapter 10 - The Boardroom Intruder
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The screen displayed an official trust document dated six years ago—the exact month Julian launched Cross Enterprises.
Julian stared at the screen, his eyes scanning the technical legal language.
"This is the master guarantee agreement for your initial fifteen-million-dollar loan," Arthur explained to the silent board members. "Without this collateral, First National Bank would have liquidated Mr. Cross's firm six years ago. Every property acquired since then was leveraged against this primary trust."
"So what?" Julian shouted, desperate to maintain control. "Some private investor backed me because they believed in my vision! What does that have to do with you or Evelyn?"
"Read line 4, Mr. Cross," Arthur said quietly.
Julian stepped closer to the screen. His eyes traced down to the signature block at the bottom of the document.
Beneficial Owner & Sole Guarantor: Evelyn Rose Vance.
The entire boardroom erupted into gasps.
Julian felt as though the floor beneath him had opened up. "No... no, that’s a fake. Evelyn didn't have any money! She worked as a researcher! She lived in a tiny apartment with me!"
"She lived in a tiny apartment with you because she loved you, you fool," Arthur said, his voice laced with venom. "She used her late mother’s fifty-million-dollar inheritance to secretly back your loans so your ego wouldn't be crushed by asking her father for help."
Chloe’s jaw dropped. She stared at Julian, her eyes wide with shock and horror. "Julian... your wife is the owner of Helios Capital?"
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Julian couldn't speak. His throat was bone dry.
Six years of hubris, six years of boasting to magazines that he was a "self-made billionaire," vanished in a single second. He hadn't built an empire. He had been living in a house built by the woman he had left bleeding in an emergency room.
