Chapter 7: The Downfall of Kings
The boardroom erupted into total bedlam. Executives stood up from their chairs, shouting questions and demanding explanations as the federal agents moved into position around Arthur Pendelton.
"This is an outrage! A complete fabrication!" Arthur shouted, his face turning an unhealthy shade of purple. "You’re unstable, James! The shock of your mother’s accident has driven you mad!"
"Read page four, Arthur," James replied coldly, crossing his arms over his chest. "It contains the full transcript of your wiretapped phone call with Victoria from last night at 11:30 PM, where you told her to 'make sure the old woman doesn't wake up to testify.'"
Arthur’s knees buckled. He fell back into his leather executive chair, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps.
A senior federal agent stepped forward, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his coat. "Arthur Pendelton, you are under arrest for corporate fraud, grand larceny, conspiracy to commit murder, and extortion."
"James, please!" Arthur begged as his hands were pulled behind his back. "I was your father’s partner! I helped build this empire! You can't do this to me!"
"My father built this empire on honor, loyalty, and hard work," James said, stepping close enough to look Arthur dead in the eye. "You tore down his legacy for greed. You used a viper to poison my home and attack my mother. You will spend the rest of your natural life in a federal penitentiary."
As the agents led Arthur away in handcuffs past the shocked board members, James turned to face the remaining executives.
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"The board meeting is adjourned," James said quietly. "Effective immediately, I am reclaiming full personal control over Sterling Financial. Every account will be audited. Every bad actor will be purged."
He walked over to the floor-to-ceiling glass window, looking out over the concrete towers of New York City. The sun was fully up now, brilliant and clear. For the first time in three years, the heavy fog of deception had finally lifted from his life.
