Chapter 2 - The Boardroom Blitz
Monday morning, the glass-walled boardroom of Sterling Industries felt like a pressure cooker. My family’s empire was built on defense contracting—weapons, armor, logistics.
Arthur, my mother, and the board of directors were sweating over the impending loss of the 'Vanguard Contract,' a multi-billion dollar government deal that was keeping Sterling Industries from going bankrupt.
The heavy mahogany doors swung open. I didn't knock. I strode in wearing a sharp, tailored black suit that covered my scars but accentuated my absolute control. Behind me walked two federal auditors and General Vance.
"What is the meaning of this, Elara?" my mother demanded, trying to mask her panic with maternal indignation. "You can't just barge in here!"
"Actually, Eleanor, she can," General Vance said, pulling out a chair for me at the head of the table. "Major Sterling is the newly appointed Pentagon liaison for the Department of Defense Acquisitions. She holds the deciding vote on the Vanguard Contract."
Arthur choked on his coffee. Chloe, who had been sitting in the corner playing on her phone, suddenly sat bolt upright.
"You?" Arthur laughed nervously. "You have no business acumen. You're a soldier."
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"I’m a soldier who knows exactly how your defective body armor performs in the field," I replied, sliding a thick file across the table. "I survived the ambush, Arthur. But I also kept the shrapnel that hit us. Shrapnel that matches the exact metallurgical signature of the illegal munitions you’ve been selling on the black market."
The room went dead silent. The game had officially begun.
