Chapter 7 - The Boardroom Siege
Thursday morning arrived with a clear, piercing blue sky—a rare, brilliant day in Seattle that seemed to signal the ultimate shifting of the tides.
The headquarters of Vargas Shipping sat in the heart of the financial district, an elegant skyscraper overlooking the bustling port. The 30th-floor boardroom was a massive space wrapped in polished glass, featuring a long, oval conference table made of rare Brazilian rosewood.
Patricia Salgado sat at the left side of the table, her hands clutching her designer handbag so tightly her knuckles were translucent. Her face was heavily made up to hide the dark circles of sleeplessness. Beside her sat Hector Becerra, looking like a coiled snake in a pinstripe suit, his fingers tapping an aggressive rhythm against the wood.
The remaining five board members sat along the edges, the tension in the room so thick it was nearly impossible to breathe.
"Where is she?" Patricia hissed, checking her diamond watch for the tenth time. "It’s 10:05 AM. The meeting was called for ten. If she doesn't show, we dismiss the summons and vote to transfer the inheritance shares to Hector immediately due to non-attendance!"
"Calm down, Patricia," Becerra muttered, though his own eyes were darting anxiously toward the double oak doors at the end of the room. The failure of his tactical team two nights ago had left him exposed; his political connections were already backing away, sensing the stench of a losing battle.
Suddenly, the heavy oak doors swung open.
Two tall Carranza Group security details stepped in, taking positions on either side of the entrance.
Then came Elena.
She walked into the room with absolute grace, her head held high, her eyes flashing with an unyielding, regal fire. She was wearing a flawless, structured white power suit that Matthew’s personal stylists had delivered to the penthouse. Her hair was swept back elegantly, revealing the faint, nearly healed bruise on her cheek—a badge of honor rather than a mark of shame.
Beside her walked Matthew Carranza, his presence instantly dominating the room, turning the air cold and heavy. Vance followed behind, carrying two thick leather briefcases.
Patricia stood up so fast her chair screeched against the floor. "Elena! How dare you walk into this building after the psychological stunt you pulled! You ran away, you worried me to death, and now you drag external competitors into our private family business?"
Elena didn't look at her stepmother. She walked straight to the head of the table—the seat that had once belonged to her father—and sat down. Matthew took the seat directly to her right, crossing his legs, his dark eyes fixing onto Hector Becerra with a terrifying, lethal stillness.
"Sit down, Patricia," Elena said. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an icy, absolute authority that shocked everyone in the room. "The meeting is now in session."
Becerra leaned forward, slamming his hands onto the table. "Listen to me, you little brat. You think because you found yourself a high-priced bodyguard that you can change the bylaws of this company? Your stepmother holds the executive power of the estate. You have 40% of the voting shares, but the rest of the board answers to us. We have the majority. We are voting today to approve the merger with Becerra Logistics, and there is nothing you or Carranza can do about it."
"Is that so, Mr. Becerra?" Matthew spoke for the first time, his voice smooth as silk and sharp as a razor. He nodded to Vance. "Show them the ledger."
Vance stepped forward, opening the first briefcase. He distributed a series of financial documents to each board member.
"As of 4:00 PM yesterday afternoon," Vance announced, his voice echoing clearly in the boardroom, "The Carranza Group has officially purchased 100% of the secondary debt notes of Vargas Shipping from the commercial banks. Furthermore, we have legally acquired the 25% share blocks held by the three board members sitting to your left, who realized that partnering with a suspected corporate saboteur was a fast track to financial ruin."
The three board members mentioned immediately looked down, refusing to meet Becerra's furious gaze.
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"What?" Patricia gasped, her face turning gray. "No... that's impossible! You can't just buy the board!"
"I didn't buy the board, Patricia," Matthew said, leaning forward, his eyes locking onto hers like a predator closing in on its prey. "I bought the company. The Carranza Group, in alliance with Miss Elena Vargas, now controls 65% of the total voting power of this firm. You are no longer in control of the estate. In fact, you don't even have a seat at this table anymore."
