An 8-Year-Old Asked for Employment to Feed Her Brother—Until a Ruthless CEO Stepped In and Altered Their Fate

The next morning, the corporate war Julian had ignored came crashing through his front door.

Julian was in the kitchen scrambling eggs—a skill he hadn't used in a decade—when the private elevator dinged. Richard Sterling, the VP of Operations, marched out holding a leather briefcase, looking absolutely furious.

"You locked me out of the system, Julian!" Richard shouted, ignoring the fact that he had just breached his boss's private residence. "The board is convening an emergency meeting in one hour to vote you out as CEO! You abandoned the Apex Global merger!"

Julian casually flipped an egg in the pan. "Keep your voice down, Richard. There are children sleeping."

Richard froze, finally noticing the baby bottles drying on the marble counter and the pink children's sneakers by the door.

"Children? Have you lost your mind?" Richard scoffed. "You blew a five-billion-dollar deal for some... what is this, a charity stunt? The board thinks you're having a mental breakdown."

"The board works for me," Julian said coldly, turning the stove off. "I hold fifty-one percent of the voting shares."

"Not anymore," Richard smiled a venomous, triumphant smile. "While you were playing house, I convinced Henderson and Croft to consolidate their shares with mine. We triggered the absentee clause in the bylaws. If you aren't in that boardroom at 10:00 AM to defend your position, you're out. And I take the company."

Julian wiped his hands on a towel, his eyes narrowing into predatory slits. He had built Vanguard from a single warehouse into a global superpower. Richard was an opportunistic snake trying to steal his crown while he was distracted.

"I will be there," Julian said softly.

"Good," Richard sneered. "Bring a box for your desk."