Chapter 16
|
The following morning, Elena did not take an armed convoy. She dressed in a powerful, understated charcoal suit, projecting absolute confidence, and had Rosa drive her directly to Thomas’s private estate in the Hamptons.
Thomas was an older man, holding a deep affection for his prize-winning orchids, which he was currently tending to in a massive glass greenhouse when Elena arrived. He looked surprised, and intensely nervous, to see the CEO's wife walking up his garden path.
"Elena," Thomas stammered, wiping soil from his hands with a towel. "I... I wasn't expecting a visit. Is Julian alright?"
"Julian is perfectly fine, Thomas," Elena smiled warmly, though her eyes remained entirely serious. "But I wanted to speak with you privately, away from the boardroom tension."
Thomas shifted uncomfortably, gesturing to a small wrought-iron table amidst the orchids. "Please, sit."
"I know Victoria has contacted you," Elena began immediately, refusing to waste time dancing around the issue. "I know she is offering you a fortune to vote against Julian on Friday to allow Alexander Sterling’s hostile takeover."
Thomas paled, his eyes darting toward the greenhouse door. "Elena, you have to understand. The stock is volatile. Sterling is threatening to release more damaging information. I have a fiduciary duty to protect the shareholders."
"You have a duty to protect this company from criminals," Elena corrected firmly, leaning forward. "Alexander Sterling flew a drone into my home last night, Thomas. He threatened my six-month-old daughter."
Thomas gasped, absolute horror washing over his face. "He... he threatened the baby? Victoria didn't tell me that."
"Victoria doesn't care about anything except her own vindictive pride," Elena stated coldly. "Sterling is not a businessman, Thomas. He is a predator. If you vote to let him into Vanguard-Vance, he won't stabilize the stock. He will dismantle the entire company, sell the pieces for scrap, and leave you holding the ashes. Julian built the most profitable quarter in history through ethical, transparent leadership. You know Julian's mind. Do you really want to bet against him?"
Thomas stared at Elena, seeing the unbreakable, terrifying strength that had transformed Julian Vance from a ruthless tyrant into a fiercely protective leader.
May you like
"No," Thomas whispered, his hands shaking slightly as he set the towel down. "No, I don't."
"Then on Friday," Elena said, standing up gracefully, "you are going to help us spring a trap."
