Chapter 4 - The Boardroom Ambush
Sterling & Vanguard was exactly the kind of old-money, pretentious firm Julian loved. Marble floors, oak-paneled walls, and a culture built entirely on nepotism.
When I walked through the glass doors on Tuesday morning, I wasn't wearing a bridal gown. I wore a tailored, slate-gray power suit, my hair pulled back in a sharp bun, and a pair of stiletto heels that clicked against the marble like a ticking clock. Flanked by David and two executives from Apex Holdings, I bypassed the receptionist completely.
We walked straight into the main glass-walled conference room where the executive team was having their morning briefing.
Julian was at the head of the table, looking haggard but still trying to project an air of authority. When the doors swung open and he saw me, he dropped his laser pointer.
“Maya?” he gaped, his face turning an alarming shade of pale. “What are you doing here? Security!”
“Cancel that order,” the CEO of Apex Holdings, a stern man named Richard, stepped forward. “Everyone, please take your seats. I’d like to introduce you to the new majority shareholder of Apex Holdings, and by extension, the new owner of this firm: Ms. Maya Lin.”
The silence in the boardroom was so profound you could have heard a pin drop. Julian’s mouth opened and closed like a fish suffocating on dry land.
I walked to the opposite end of the long mahogany table, rested my hands on the polished wood, and looked directly into Julian’s terrified eyes.
“Good morning, gentlemen,” I said, my voice smooth and commanding. “I am here to oversee the restructuring of this firm. We will be doing a full audit of all executive accounts, expenses, and performance metrics. We will be trimming the fat.”
Julian stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. “This is a joke. You’re a project manager! You can't possibly own Apex!”
“I founded NovaCore, Julian,” I said simply. “I sold a thirty percent stake last year for eighty million dollars. The money you stole from me to pay your mother’s electricity bill was pocket change. But it was my pocket change.”
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I turned to the HR director, who was sweating profusely.
“Effective immediately, Julian Croft’s employment is terminated pending an investigation into wire fraud and embezzlement. Please have security escort him from the premises.”
