Chapter 8
Chapter 8: The Broadcast
Confused whispers spread through the ballroom like a sudden gust of wind. The board? What did she mean? David Harrington frowned, looking back at Thomas. "Who is this woman?" he hissed under his breath.
Thomas was frantically tapping on his tablet. "Sir, I... I don't know. The guest list just says Sarah Hayes, parent of a performer."
Suddenly, the ambient lighting in the ballroom dimmed. The massive digital display screens positioned around the venue—which had previously been showing the charity's logo—flickered and went black.
"Sterling, what is going on with the AV system?" David barked.
Before the manager could answer, the screens flashed back to life. But it wasn't the charity logo. It was a live, high-definition video feed of an elderly man with piercing silver eyes, sitting behind a massive mahogany desk.
David’s blood ran cold. It was Arthur Pendelton, the Chairman of Harrington Global Holdings, and the only man who held more sway over the shareholders than David himself.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Arthur Pendelton’s booming voice echoed through the ballroom's state-of-the-art sound system. "I apologize for this highly unusual interruption to your evening's charitable proceedings."
The guests were completely mesmerized. David took a step backward, his face paling. "Arthur? What is this?" he demanded of the screen, though it was a one-way broadcast.
"Moments ago, after an emergency remote vote by our board of directors..." the Chairman continued, his tone grave and unyielding. "We have accepted the immediate resignation of CEO David Harrington."
The ballroom froze. The silence was so absolute that one could have heard a pin drop on the marble floor.
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The Chairman leaned forward, looking directly into the camera. "Our company, Harrington Global, was built on a foundation of integrity, community support, and respect. We are the largest donor to this children's foundation. Any leader who publicly humiliates a child, who abuses his power to bully the vulnerable, no longer represents our values. Mr. Harrington’s termination is effective immediately."
The screens abruptly cut to black, returning the charity logo to the displays.
