Chapter 8 - The Boardroom CoupTwo weeks after the disaster at the gala, the storm had settled, leaving the Whitmore empire in complete ruin.
Federal prosecutors had filed over thirty counts of grand embezzlement, conspiracy, and first-degree murder charges against Margaret and Daniel Whitmore. With their assets completely frozen, they couldn't even afford private defense attorneys and were assigned public defenders.
Meanwhile, the probate court held an expedited hearing regarding the ownership of Vance-Whitmore Enterprises.
I sat at the head of the massive mahogany table in the 50th-floor boardroom—the very room where Margaret and Daniel had once ruled the city. Sitting beside me was Julian, who had been appointed as my senior legal advisor, and Marcus, who I had hired to head the company’s digital security division.
Across the table sat the remaining members of the board of directors. They looked pale, terrified, and eager to please the new owner.
"Miss Vance," the oldest board member said, leaning forward with a trembling smile. "We... we had no idea what Margaret and Daniel were doing behind closed doors. Had we known—"
"You knew," I cut him off smoothly, adjusting the cuffs of my tailored white blazer. "You didn't ask questions because your dividend checks were high every quarter. You turned a blind eye while a murderer ran this company."
The board members shifted uncomfortably in their leather chairs, unable to meet my eyes.
"As the legal heir to 82% of the voting shares," I continued, sliding a stack of termination papers across the table, "I am restructuring the entire executive board today. Every single person sitting at this table is relieved of their duties immediately."
"You can't fire all of us!" another director protested. "The company will collapse without our management!"
"This company survived on stolen money and fear," I replied coldly. "It will now thrive on transparency and justice. Hand in your keycards to security on your way out."
Within ten minutes, the boardroom was completely empty except for Julian and me.
May you like
Julian walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out over the Chicago skyline. "Your mother would be immensely proud of you, Emily."
I stood up and walked over to stand beside him, looking down at the city. "We still have one more thing to do, Julian."
