Chapter 5 - The Phantom Bidder
The boardroom of Callaway Holdings was suffocating. Preston Callaway paced the length of the mahogany table, his face a mottled, furious red. Weston sat at the far end, hollow-eyed and silent, watching the man he now knew was the true father of his "son."
"This is unacceptable!" Preston roared, slamming a fist onto the table. "Vanguard Acquisitions is buying up our debt at pennies on the dollar! They’ve secured 40% of the voting shares through proxy firms in three days. Who the hell is S.R. Sterling, and why won't they take my calls?"
"They’re bleeding us dry, Dad," Weston said, his voice flat, devoid of the respect he once held. "The supply chain contracts we relied on mysteriously evaporated. The banks are calling in our loans. We have to take the meeting."
Preston sneered. "We don't bow to phantom venture capitalists."
"If we don't, we file for Chapter 11 by Friday," Weston shot back. "The meeting is set for noon today. Here. Sterling is coming to us."
At precisely 11:59 AM, the heavy glass doors of the boardroom swung open.
A team of four high-powered corporate lawyers walked in first, setting down thick leather briefcases. Behind them walked a woman in a perfectly tailored, striking crimson suit. Her dark hair was styled in a sleek bob, her posture radiating absolute, terrifying authority.
Weston’s breath caught in his lungs. The pen in his hand snapped in two.
Preston squinted, recognition dawning slowly, followed by a shock so profound he physically staggered backward.
It was Sable.
She didn't look like the tired, heartbroken woman in the hospital gown. She looked like a queen stepping onto a battlefield she had already won.
She took the seat at the head of the table—Preston’s seat—and folded her hands elegantly.
"Gentlemen," Sable said, her voice smooth as glass. "I believe you have some assets that belong to me."
May you like
"Sable?" Weston whispered, his voice cracking. "What... how..."
"It's Ms. Sterling in this room, Weston," she corrected, not breaking eye contact. "And I highly suggest you close your mouth and open your ledger. We have a lot of debt to discuss."
