Chapter 6
Julian wasted no time, immediately calling an emergency board meeting at Vance Industries headquarters in Manhattan. The towering glass skyscraper stood proudly against the New York skyline, its lobby draped with a massive American flag.
Board members sat around the sleek conference table, whispering anxiously among themselves as Julian walked in. He didn't waste words, slamming a thick manila folder down onto the polished walnut surface.
"Gentlemen, our internal audit has confirmed that Senator Arthur Sterling’s campaign has received over fifteen million in stolen corporate funds," Julian announced. Gasps erupted around the room as executives scrambled to read the damning financial printouts.
"If this gets out to the SEC and the media, our stock will plummet by at least fifty percent overnight," the chief financial officer warned. "It's already getting out; federal investigators are subpoenaing our bank records as we speak," Julian replied grimly.
"Then we need to make a deal with the senator before he uses his political influence to bury us," suggested one terrified board member. Julian’s eyes flashed with fierce, unyielding anger.
"We don't make deals with corrupt politicians who weaponize family members to commit white-collar crimes," Julian stated forcefully. "We hand everything directly to the Attorney General's office by this afternoon."
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Before the board could object, the glass double doors of the boardroom flew open without warning. Two armed federal agents stood in the doorway, flanked by a senior prosecutor from the Department of Justice.
"Julian Vance, you are under federal subpoena to surrender all corporate communications regarding the Sterling campaign donations," the prosecutor declared. Julian stood up slowly, realizing the political machine had struck back faster than anticipated.
