Chapter 13 - The Boardroom Raid
While the legal war simmered in the courts, Richard Montgomery moved to strike at Ethan’s primary business venture—Vance-Montgomery Global Logistics—located in a glass skyscraper in downtown Chicago.
At 9:00 AM on January 3rd, Richard Montgomery marched into the 30th-floor corporate boardroom unannounced.
Richard was a silver-haired man in his late fifties, dressed in a sharp three-piece suit, carrying himself with the arrogant posture of a man who believed money could buy any outcome. Behind him walked three private security guards and Harrison Vance, carrying briefcases filled with court notices.
The executive board members—men and women who had worked alongside Ethan and Claire to build the firm into a green-energy shipping giant— sat in silence as Richard took the seat at the head of the conference table.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen," Richard announced loudly, clapping his hands together. "As of 8:00 AM today, pursuant to the Cook County Chancery order, Ethan and Claire's voting equity has been suspended pending probate review. As the primary trustee of the original Montgomery estate, I am assuming the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer."
The room remained dead quiet. None of the board members stood up. None of them applauded.
"Is there a problem?" Richard sneered, looking around the table. "I suggest you all check your emails. Re-assignments will begin by noon."
The heavy double doors of the boardroom swung open.
Ethan walked into the room. He wore a dark charcoal suit, an emerald silk tie, and an aura of supreme, absolute control. Beside him walked Claire, wearing a sharp white blazer, holding a black leather briefcase.
"You're in my chair, Richard," Ethan said softly, his voice echoing off the glass walls.
Richard laughed nervously, adjusting his silk tie. "Ethan, you're trespassing! You've been frozen out! Security, escort Mr. and Mrs. Morales off the premises!"
The three security guards didn't budge.
"They don't work for you, Richard," Claire said, walking up to the table and setting her briefcase down with a loud THUD. "They work for Vance-Montgomery Security Services. A subsidiary owned entirely by my independent personal trust—a trust that was never part of my father's estate probate."
Richard’s face twitched. "What?!"
Claire opened the briefcase, pulling out a thick stack of certified legal documents.
"Ten minutes ago," Claire announced smoothly, her voice ringing with undisputed authority, "the Illinois Appellate Court granted an immediate stay against your Chancery freeze order. They reviewed our preliminary evidence showing Arthur Pendelton’s travel records."
She slid a document across the glass table right into Richard’s chest.
"Arthur Pendelton was in Macau playing high-stakes baccarat on the exact hour he supposedly witnessed my father’s signature in London," Claire said, her brown eyes locking onto Richard with absolute steel. "The signatures on your codicil are not just forged; they're federal fraud."
Richard turned as white as paper, looking frantically at Harrison Vance. "Harrison! What is she talking about?!"
Harrison looked down at the court document, his lip trembling slightly. "Richard... they have the Macau customs stamp. The filing is dead."
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Ethan stepped closer, leaning his hands on the back of Richard's leather chair, shadowing the older man completely.
"You tried to ruin my wife when she was alone, Richard," Ethan whispered in a tone so freezing it chilled the air in the room. "Now look at her. She just stripped you of your standing in front of your own lawyers. Pack your things and get out of my building."
