Chapter 28 - The Return to the Tower
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The glass tower that housed Vale Holdings looked exactly the same, but walking through the revolving doors felt entirely different.
Adrian carried a simple leather briefcase, accompanied by two junior analysts from his firm. He wasn't the heir apparent returning to claim his throne; he was a hired gun here to perform an autopsy.
The executive floor was thick with tension. The board members looked haggard, sweating through their expensive suits as Adrian walked into the main conference room.
He didn't sit at the head of the table. He stood by the whiteboard.
"Let's get straight to the point," Adrian began, pulling up a digital projection of their recent acquisitions. "You bought three manufacturing plants in Shenzhen without conducting proper due diligence regarding their supply chain liabilities. You are bleeding capital to cover massive environmental fines."
"We were assured those liabilities were manageable," the current CEO stammered, looking defensive.
"You were lied to, and you were too eager for a quick profit to verify the facts," Adrian countered ruthlessly.
He spent the next four hours systematically dismantling their operations. He didn't use fear or manipulation; he used cold, undeniable data. He stripped away their excuses and laid their failures bare on the conference table.
When the meeting finally concluded, the CEO looked completely defeated.
"Can it be saved?" Thorne asked quietly.
"Yes," Adrian said, packing up his briefcase. "But it requires liquidating the Asian assets at a heavy loss and restructuring the domestic supply chain. It will take two years, and the board will have to take a massive pay cut."
"We accept your recommendations," Thorne nodded grimly.
Adrian walked out of the building and hailed a cab. He didn't feel a sense of triumph or vindication. He just felt tired.
He called Claire from the back of the taxi.
"How did it go?" she asked.
"It was just a job," Adrian replied honestly, watching the city pass by. "Just numbers on a page. The ghost is finally dead, Claire."
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"Come home," she said warmly. "Miles is trying to teach Barnaby how to fetch the newspaper. It's a disaster."
"I'm on my way."
