Chapter 7 - The Boardroom Coup
Ethan Cross stepped onto the stage, completely ignoring the security guards who hesitated to move against a man of his stature. Marcus stood at the base of the stage, his arms crossed, a clear signal that any interference would be met with immediate, overwhelming physical force.
"Mr. Cross," Victoria stammered, trying to piece her broken composure back together in front of the flashing cameras of the press. "This is a private corporate event. You have no standing here—"
"I have fifty-five percent standing here, Mrs. Montgomery," Ethan said smoothly, pulling a leather folder from his jacket and tossing it onto the signing table. "At exactly 4:00 p.m. today, Aria Montgomery executed her full inheritance rights, transferring her forty-nine percent stake to Cross Capital. Combined with my existing institutional holdings, we represent the absolute majority of Montgomery Logistics."
The crowd erupted into chaotic whispers. The board members sitting in the front row began frantically checking their phones as automated corporate notifications flooded their email boxes.
"This is absurd!" Mr. Vance shouted, stepping forward, his wrinkled face flushed with anger. "The merger contract has already been approved by the proxy signatures! The deal is done!"
"The proxy signature is a forgery, Mr. Vance," Sarah Jenkins announced, stepping out from the side wings of the stage, accompanied by two forensic handwriting analysts and three federal agents in dark trench coats. "We have already filed a federal injunction freezing the merger. Furthermore, a forensic audit of Montgomery Logistics’ accounts has been delivered to the SEC."
Victoria reached out to grab the edge of the podium to keep from falling. "Aria... please... we are family," she whispered, her eyes wide with desperation as she looked at her stepmother. "Don't do this to your father's memory."
"Do not speak about my father," Aria said, stepping onto the stage and looking down at the woman who had terrorized her for years. "My father built this company on honor. You turned it into a den of thieves. You tried to sell me like a piece of equipment to cover up your crimes. Tonight, the company returns to its rightful owner."
Ethan looked at the board members in the front row. "As majority owner, I call an immediate vote to terminate Victoria Montgomery from her position as CEO and Chairman of the Board. All in favor?"
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Every single board member’s hand shot into the air instantly. No one wanted to cross Ethan Cross.
"The motion carries," Ethan said flatly. "Victoria, you are terminated."
