Chapter 18 - The Fall of the CEO
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By late afternoon, the heavy doors of the small conference room finally opened. Marian Cho walked slowly back into the main boardroom, her face a mask of absolute fury.
She did not sit down at the head of the table. She stood tall, commanding the room's attention.
“Effective immediately, the waiver request presented to Mrs. Whitmore is permanently withdrawn,” she announced, her voice echoing off the glass walls.
“No further documents relating to her historical equity are to be presented for signature. Furthermore, the proposed European acquisition is officially suspended pending the full completion of a comprehensive internal investigation.”
Sloane instantly leaped up from her chair, her face a mixture of outrage and panic.
“This is a massive overreaction!” she shouted.
Marian turned her icy gaze toward her.
“Your system access has already been disabled. Corporate counsel will be contacting you shortly regarding the mandatory preservation of all your electronic records.”
“You cannot remove a senior executive based on wild allegations from a bitter, jealous spouse!”
“This decision is based on forged financial records and misappropriated corporate funds,” Marian replied, her tone leaving absolutely no room for debate.
Sloane looked desperately at Adrian, expecting him to unleash his usual commanding fury to protect her.
He remained entirely silent, staring blankly at the floor.
Marian turned her attention to the man who had built the empire.
“Mr. Whitmore, the board of directors has officially voted to place you on immediate administrative leave from your duties as Chief Executive Officer. You are no longer authorized to enter company premises, you are forbidden to contact any employees regarding this ongoing investigation, and you have zero authority to approve any corporate transactions.”
All the color violently drained from Adrian’s face.
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For fourteen long years, he had made himself practically synonymous with Helixora. He had aggressively cultivated a mythology, forcing everyone to believe the company drew its breath entirely from his lungs.
Now, in front of the woman he tried to erase, the board was calling security to confiscate his access badge.
