Chapter 5 - THE BOARDROOM SNAKES
The glass tower of Vance Global Enterprises towered over Wall Street, reflecting the gray morning sky.
Julian walked into the executive boardroom wearing a sharp charcoal suit, his presence commanding absolute silence.
Twelve board members sat around the long mahogany table, their expressions ranging from fake warmth to masked anxiety.
At the head of the table sat Arthur Sterling, the chief financial officer and Julian's late father's oldest associate.
"Julian, my boy, we heard rumors about a disturbance at your home last night," Arthur said smoothly, adjusting his gold cufflinks.
"A minor security breach, Arthur," Julian lied casually, taking his seat at the center. "Victoria had to leave the country unexpectedly."
Subtle glances exchanged among three senior board members sitting across from Arthur.
"How unfortunate," Arthur smiled thinly. "We were hoping she would attend today's merger vote."
Julian rested his elbows on the table, interlocking his fingers. "The merger with Apex Holdings is canceled."
Gasps echoed through the luxurious boardroom.
"You can't cancel it!" shouted Marcus Kane, head of international operations. "We've invested billions!"
"Apex Holdings is a shell corporation registered in the Cayman Islands," Julian declared coldly. "And its major shareholder is Victoria's father."
Silence descended upon the room, heavy and suffocating.
Arthur Sterling’s smile faded entirely, replaced by a cold, calculating glare.
"You're making a grave mistake, Julian," Arthur warned, his voice low and dangerous. "Your father made sudden decisions like this, too."
"Is that a threat, Arthur?" Julian challenged, leaning across the table.
"It's a reminder of how fragile life in Wall Street truly is," Arthur replied smoothly.
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Behind the double doors of the boardroom, Emily stood quietly with a stack of executive documents, monitoring every reaction through the polished glass.
She adjusted her earbud, transmitting the entire conversation to an offshore intelligence team.
