Chapter 3: The Hostile Takeover
"Handover?" Julian screamed, his voice cracking. "I am the CEO! I don't hand over anything to anyone!"
Elena looked at him, her expression one of mild pity. "You aren't the CEO, Julian. You’re an employee who stopped performing. Your aggressive acquisitions were illegal, and your tax avoidance schemes are currently being reviewed by a federal task force that I invited into the lobby three minutes ago."
As if on cue, the sliding glass doors opened again. This time, it wasn't an assistant. It was a group of calm, professional men and women in suits, displaying badges that sent a jolt of pure terror through the room.
The ruthless CEO and the unfazed woman stood face to face. For the first time in his life, Julian looked small. The power he relied on—the suits, the money, the sycophants—all evaporated as the reality of the hostile takeover took hold. His empire wasn't just being challenged; it was being disassembled in real-time.
"You stole from the Foundation," Elena said, her voice echoing through the lobby. "You used corporate funds to fuel your lifestyle and bankrupted the smaller partners who kept this firm afloat. You thought you were a king, but you were just a parasite."
Julian tried to make a break for the elevators, but the security team he had personally hired—the men who had spent years doing his dirty work—stepped forward, not to help him, but to ensure he didn't move. They had already been briefed. They knew who held the real authority now.
"Take him to the conference room," the lead agent said, his voice devoid of emotion.
May you like
Julian’s legs seemed to give out. He looked at Elena, his eyes wide with a mix of fury and genuine, primal fear. "You can't do this. I'll fight you in every court in the country! I have the best lawyers in the US!"
"I know," Elena smiled, a gesture so sharp it was almost a threat. "That's why I bought the firm they work for this morning. You have no one left, Julian. Not your board, not your lawyers, and certainly not your legacy."
