Chapter 14 - THE TICKER SHOCK
Thomas sneered, pulling out his smartphone from his pocket with a trembling, arthritic finger to check the market opening.
He tapped open the financial trading app, expecting to see Vance stock plunging due to the internal boardroom conflict.
Instead, the screen flashed a brilliant green banner indicating a massive institutional buy-back and 100% consolidation under Victoria Vance.
"What... what is the meaning of this? Why is your ownership listed as one hundred percent?!" Thomas gasped, rising halfway out of his chair.
"Because the legacy clause was never a myth, Thomas. It was a loaded gun pointed directly at your family's greed," Victoria explained calmly.
Thomas clutched his chest, his face turning an alarming shade of pale as the financial reality crashed down around him.
"You... you systematically trapped us. You lured Julian into believing he had won so he would expose his embezzlement," Thomas realized in horror.
"Apple doesn't fall far from the corrupt tree, Thomas. Your son learned his extortion tactics directly from you," Victoria stated coldly.
Marcus stepped forward, placing a thick federal subpoena document directly on top of Thomas's smartphone screen.
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"Federal indictment papers for corporate tax evasion and securities fraud, signed by the U.S. Attorney General twenty minutes ago," Marcus recited.
Thomas stared at the official government seal, his legs finally giving out beneath him as he collapsed back into the leather chair.
