Chapter 6 - The Takeover
December 28th, 9:01 AM.
The atmosphere in the boardroom of Ward Logistics was suffocating. Evan and Sylvia sat on one side of the long conference table, flanked by their frantic corporate lawyer, who kept shuffling papers nervously. Evan looked hollowed out, dark circles under his eyes, his expensive suit wrinkled. Sylvia looked tightly wound, her hands shaking as she clutched her handbag.
Across from them sat Victoria Vance, two junior associates, and Nora Ellis. Arthur had stayed home with Sophie, stating that he had won his wars, and this victory belonged entirely to his daughter.
Victoria Vance checked her gold watch, then looked up at Evan. "Mr. Ward, it is past 9:00 AM. Our escrow agents have confirmed that no funds have been received from your accounts. Do you have a certified bank draft or wire confirmation to present to us at this time?"
Evan’s lawyer sighed, putting his head in his hands. "We do not, Ms. Vance. My client was unable to secure the liquidity."
"Very well," Victoria said, pulling a new set of documents from her briefcase. "As per the terms of Clause 14B, the default is now active. I have here the transfer of ownership documents, pre-signed by the court receiver. As of sixty seconds ago, sixty percent of all voting shares in Ward Logistics have been transferred to Mrs. Nora Ellis. Furthermore, all physical properties owned by the corporation, including the executive estate located at 14 Laurel Lane, are now under her sole discretion."
Sylvia jumped to her feet, her face purple with rage. "You can't kick us out of our home! That mansion belongs to the family!"
"The mansion was purchased using a corporate shell company funded by Ward Logistics’ capital reserves, Mrs. Ward," Victoria corrected her coldly. "Therefore, it is a corporate asset. And as the majority shareholder, Mrs. Ellis has decided to liquidate that asset to cover the outstanding debts left by your son’s mismanagement."
Nora stood up, placing her hands flat on the table. She leaned in slightly, looking at her mother-in-law. "Sylvia, you have until five o'clock tonight to pack your clothes and leave the property. Anything left behind will be donated to charity. And I’ve already instructed the security team to change the gate codes at 5:01."
"You ungrateful little brat!" Sylvia screamed, pointing a manicured finger at her. "We gave you everything! We let you into our world!"
"You threw my daughter into a blizzard," Nora replied, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper that silenced the room. "You don't have a world anymore, Sylvia. I just took it."
Evan looked up, his voice weak. "Nora... please. What am I supposed to do? I built this company. It's my name on the building."
"The name will be changed by Monday, Evan," Nora said calmly. "As for your employment, you are officially terminated from your position as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. You will receive no severance package due to gross misconduct and breach of contract."
"You're ruining me," Evan whispered, staring at her in disbelief. "I'll have nothing."
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"You'll have exactly what you gave me and Sophie on Christmas Eve," Nora said, turning her back on him. "Except you'll have a roof over your head, which is more than you offered your own child. Victoria, please handle the remaining paperwork. I have a company to run."
As Nora walked out of the boardroom, the security guards she had hired stood outside the door, waiting to escort Evan and Sylvia off the premises. For the first time in five years, Nora felt like she could breathe completely. The weight of the Ward family's oppression was gone, replaced by the exhilarating, terrifying thrill of total independence.
