Chapter 3 - The Morning Bell
At 7:45 AM the next morning, the executive floor of Helios Dynamics was operating at maximum energy. Television monitors in the lobby played clips of Dominic and Genevieve’s engagement, framing them as the ultimate power couple in clean energy technology.
Dominic stepped out of the private elevator wearing a tailored Italian navy suit, carrying a leather briefcase, and smiling broadly at his assistants.
"Order three dozen white orchids for Ms. Laurent's office," Dominic instructed his executive secretary. "And schedule a press conference for eleven o'clock to announce our joint stock consolidation."
"Mr. Vance," his secretary said, her face pale as a ghost, standing up from her desk. "There's... there are people in the boardroom."
"The venture partners from Chicago?" Dominic asked, adjusting his cufflinks. "They're early."
"No, sir. Not the Chicago partners."
Dominic pushed open the frosted glass double doors of the boardroom.
Sitting at the head of the thirty-foot marble conference table was a team of six forensic accountants in dark suits, flanked by Fiona Campbell and two uniformed corporate compliance officers.
And sitting directly in the leather executive chair at the head of the table, dressed in a sharp charcoal Saint Laurent power suit with her hair pulled back into a sleek chignon, was me.
Dominic froze on the threshold. "Beatrice? What kind of ridiculous joke is this? Get out of my chair before I have building security remove you."
Fiona Campbell stood up, sliding a thick, red-stamped binder across the marble table until it stopped right in front of Dominic.
"Mr. Vance," Fiona said with razor-sharp precision. "As of 6:00 AM this morning, Clause Seventeen of the master charter has been formally executed. You are looking at the sole beneficial owner of Apex Capital and the primary shareholder of Helios Dynamics."
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Dominic stared at the documents, his breath hitching. "That's... that's impossible. Apex Capital is an institutional investment consortium based in Grand Cayman."
"Apex Capital was founded by my father, Arthur Sterling, twenty-two years ago," I said, looking him directly in the eyes. "And upon his death, every single share, patent, and voting right transferred to me."
