Chapter 3 - The Boardroom Ambush
Monday morning arrived with a bitter, biting chill in the air.
I wore my sharpest black power suit and a pair of designer heels that sounded like gunshots on the marble floor.
I walked into the lobby of Bennett Office Supply exactly at nine o'clock.
The receptionist, a sweet woman named Brenda, looked up and gasped in sheer panic.
“Ms. Bennett, your father left strict orders that you are not allowed in the building,” she whispered nervously.
“Do not worry about it, Brenda,” I said gently, offering her a warm smile.
“I am just here to collect some personal items from my old office.”
I bypassed the security desk before the guards could figure out what to do.
I marched straight toward the executive boardroom on the top floor.
I knew for a fact that my father and Vanessa were meeting with the Sterling Corporation executives right now.
I threw open the heavy oak doors without bothering to knock.
The room fell into a stunned, deafening silence.
My father was standing at the head of the long table, pointing to a glowing presentation slide.
Vanessa was sitting next to the Sterling CEO, looking perfectly polished and incredibly smug.
Her smugness vanished the second she saw my face.
“Claire,” my father barked, his face turning an angry shade of purple.
“You have absolutely no business being here.”
“Security is going to escort you off the premises immediately.”
I ignored him completely and walked confidently toward the Sterling Corporation CEO, a sharp-eyed man named Richard.
“Richard, it is a pleasure to finally meet you,” I said, extending my hand.
He shook it tentatively, clearly confused by the intense family drama unfolding before him.
“I am Claire Bennett, the former Chief Operations Officer of this company.”
“I understand my family is trying to sell you this business for forty million dollars.”
Vanessa stood up so fast her chair tipped over and crashed onto the floor.
“Do not listen to her, Richard,” she shrieked hysterically.
“She is a disgruntled former employee who was fired for gross incompetence.”
I pulled a sleek silver flash drive from my pocket and placed it gently on the table in front of Richard.
“Before you sign any binding contracts today, I highly suggest your forensic accountants review the files on this drive.”
“It contains the actual, unedited financial ledgers of Bennett Office Supply.”
“You will find that my sister has embezzled roughly four million dollars over the past three years.”
The color completely drained from my father’s face.
He looked like he was about to have another heart attack right there in the boardroom.
I turned around, my heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floor.
May you like
“Have a wonderful meeting, everyone,” I called out over my shoulder.
I walked out of the room, leaving absolute, explosive chaos in my wake.
