Chapter 7 - The Boardroom Execution
"Arthur," Eleanor said, without looking back at her attorney.
"Yes, Mrs. Sterling?"
"Execute the default clause on the Apex notes. Gavin Vance has demonstrated gross moral failure, catastrophic leadership negligence, and an inability to protect the reputational integrity of this enterprise."
"Already drafted, ma'am," Pendelton replied smoothly, pulling a crisp set of documents from his leather folder and thrusting them against Gavin's chest. "Effective at 9:00 AM today, your voting shares have been seized under Section 4 of the financial covenants. You are removed from the board of directors, stripped of your title as Managing Partner, and barred from this property."
Gavin dropped the papers. They fluttered across the floor, scattering against the shoes of the employees he had spent years terrorizing.
"You can't do this!" Gavin screamed, panic turning into frantic desperation. "I built this company! My name is on the wall! Vance Media Group!"
"By noon, the signage will be removed," Eleanor replied calmly. "And by tomorrow morning, forensic auditors will begin a complete review of your expense accounts. I suspect they will find a great deal of creative accounting in your private client dinners and overseas travel. Now, pack your office. You have ten minutes. Todd will provide you with a box."
A few junior staff members stifled muffled laughs. Todd looked down at his shoes, utterly unwilling to meet Gavin's frantic, pleading eyes.
Two of Eleanor's private security guards stepped forward, flanking Gavin and firmly gripping his arms to guide him down the hall toward his corner suite. Gavin looked back at me, his eyes wide with a mixture of terror, hatred, and pure humiliation, but I didn't feel triumph. I only felt an overwhelming, profound sense of relief.
The silence that followed was absolute.
Eleanor Sterling turned around and walked slowly toward me. The entire staff watched with bated breath as the billionaire matriarch reached my side. She looked down at the cardboard box in my arms, then up at my face.
"Mark Lawson," she said, her voice rich with warmth.
May you like
"Mrs. Sterling," I managed to say, feeling completely overwhelmed. "I'm glad you're okay. Yesterday was... terrifying."
"You have soot on your forehead, young man," she said gently, reaching up with her uninjured hand to lightly brush my brow, exactly as my own mother used to do. "Put that ridiculous box down and come with me. We have a great deal to discuss."
