Chapter 12 - Celeste Threatens Legal Destruction Against General Counsel
Back in Manhattan, the executive boardroom of Larkin Holdings buzzed with aggressive corporate energy.
Three senior corporate attorneys sat around the polished mahogany table, reviewing the forensic data dropped by federal investigators.
Celeste Larkin stood at the head of the table, projecting an air of absolute, unyielding authority.
The boardroom doors swung open abruptly, and Veyron’s chief legal counsel, Richard Sterling, marched inside uninvited.
Sterling looked flushed and panicked, having just rushed over from Veyron’s besieged corporate headquarters downtown.
“Celeste! What in God’s name are you playing at with these federal injunctions?” Sterling demanded loudly.
Celeste didn't flinch, nor did she invite him to sit down at her conference table.
“Richard,” Celeste said, her voice dripping with lethal politeness.
“You’re trespassing in my corporate headquarters without an appointment.”
“You’re trying to stage a hostile takeover of a publicly traded medical device manufacturer based on a disgruntled mechanic's claims!”
One of Celeste’s senior corporate attorneys calmly slid a thick folder across the mahogany surface toward Sterling.
“Those aren't just a mechanic's claims, Richard; those are internal manufacturing memos subpoenaed by federal marshals,” the lawyer stated.
Sterling glanced down at the folder, his eyes widening as he recognized the official Veyron corporate letterhead.
“Where... where did you get these?” Sterling stammered, losing his arrogant composure instantly.
“Your client’s primary manufacturing plant in New Jersey was raided by federal agents three hours ago,” Celeste reminded him.
“Every server containing three years of suppressed safety reports is currently sitting in a secure government vault.”
Sterling dropped heavily into an empty leather chair, realizing the legal trap had snapped shut completely.
“Look, Celeste... we can settle this quietly out of court... a private financial settlement for your daughter—”
“A private financial settlement?” Celeste interrupted, slamming her palms flat against the mahogany tabletop.
“You systematically tortured my daughter for six months to protect your stock price and executive bonuses.”
“We made calculated corporate risk assessments based on standard industry compliance metrics—”
“Your risk assessment just cost Veyron its entire market capitalization,” Celeste fired back without blinking.
She leaned forward over the table, her dark eyes locking onto the terrified general counsel.
“By tomorrow morning, Larkin Holdings will own fifty-one percent of Veyron voting stock.”
“You can’t do that... the SEC will block a hostile acquisition under emergency market stabilization rules,” Sterling argued weakly.
“The SEC is currently reviewing the criminal indictments against your CEO and your quality assurance director,” Celeste replied.
“The only thing the SEC is going to stabilize tomorrow is the wreckage of your professional reputation.”
Sterling stared at her in absolute horror, recognizing that the Larkin family had mobilized an unstoppable corporate juggernaut.
“What do you want, Celeste?” Sterling whispered, his voice cracking under the immense pressure.
“I want every executive who signed off on batch B-4 stripped of their stock options and handed over to federal prosecutors.”
“And?” Sterling asked, dreading the answer.
“And I want Veyron’s entire research division redirected toward building fully accessible, flawless mobility tech for trauma survivors.”
Sterling swallowed hard, knowing he had no leverage left to negotiate with the billionaire matriarch.
“Done,” Sterling whispered defeatively.
May you like
“Consider the resignations on my desk by sundown.”
---
Related Stories
