Chapter 8 - The Collapse of an Empire
The room erupted into chaos. Naomi screamed, backing against the glass windows as Daniel released Lucas, letting him slide to the carpet like a sack of wet laundry.
"Call security!" Naomi shrieked. "Someone do something!"
"Security works for Vance Holdings now," Daniel’s lead attorney announced, calmly placing an injunction on the mahogany table. "As the new majority coalition, we are exercising an emergency shareholder vote. Lucas Sterling is hereby suspended from all executive duties, pending an independent federal audit for intellectual property theft and securities fraud."
"You can't do this to me!" Lucas coughed, clutching his throat, looking desperately around the table at the men who had been his father's allies. "Arthur! Robert! Tell them! We built this company together!"
The older board members looked away. In the cutthroat world of Manhattan real estate, loyalty lasted only as long as the share price. And Lucas Sterling was toxic waste.
"The board accepts the motion," Chairman Arthur said quietly, refusing to meet Lucas's eyes. "Lucas, you are relieved of your post. Turn over your corporate access cards immediately."
Naomi looked at Lucas, the realization dawning on her that the empire she had clawed her way into was disintegrating in real time. Her face twisted with disgust. "You idiot," she hissed at Lucas. "You told me you owned the whole project! You told me she was nobody!"
"Naomi, shut up!" Lucas wheezed.
"Don't tell me to shut up, you pathetic loser!" Naomi turned on her heel, grabbing her designer bag, and marched toward the door. As she passed Audrey, she stopped, trying to muster a look of disdain. "Enjoy your little victory, Audrey. He was sleeping in my bed while you were waiting up for him like an obedient dog."
Audrey looked at Naomi, her expression completely indifferent.
"And now he has neither of us, nor a penny to his name," Audrey said softly. "Enjoy paying your own rent, Naomi."
Naomi gasped, her face flushing crimson, and stormed out into the elevator bank, her high heels clicking frantically against the marble.
Lucas pulled himself up against the table, his eyes bloodshot, glaring at Audrey with unadulterated hatred. "You think you won? You think Vance is going to marry you? He’s playing you, Audrey! Look at him! He’s a shark! When he gets the city contract, you'll be out on the street!"
"If I am," Audrey said, stepping forward until she stood inches from him, "I will be on the street with my name on the buildings, my father’s legacy intact, and my head held high. Get out of my building, Lucas."
Two massive Vance security guards stepped forward, hoisting Lucas by his arms and dragging him toward the private elevator. His shouts and curses faded down the hallway until the heavy doors clicked shut, leaving the boardroom in profound, ringing silence.
Audrey let out a long, ragged exhale. The air tasted different. It tasted like freedom.
May you like
Daniel stood beside her. He didn't say a word. He simply reached out and took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers, his grip solid and unyielding.
***
