Chapter 6 - THE TRAP CLOSES
The boardroom erupted into chaos.
Board members were shouting, demanding immediate explanations, while Marcus Sterling stood up, snapping his leather folder shut.
"Sterling Global is officially withdrawing from all negotiations," Marcus declared coldly. "And my legal team will be filing a formal complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission against you personally, Bennett."
"Marcus, wait!" Julian pleaded, taking a step toward him, but Marcus's two bodyguards stepped in front of him, pushing him back.
Julian turned around, his face pale, his eyes wild like a trapped animal. He looked at Celeste, who was sobbing by the door.
"You!" Julian pointed a trembling finger at her. "You did this! You convinced me to set up that account! She forced me into this, members of the board! Celeste manipulated the accounting entries! I didn't know the funds were being stolen!"
Celeste's jaw dropped. The hysterical sobbing stopped instantly, replaced by a look of sheer, unadulterated shock.
"What?!" Celeste screamed, stepping into the center of the boardroom, her professional facade completely shattered. "You lying bastard! You told me you loved me! You told me we were going to France! You gave me her mother's ring!"
She ripped the canary diamond ring off her finger and threw it with all her might directly at Julian's face.
It struck him sharply on the cheekbone before bouncing onto the mahogany table.
"You told me your wife was a brainless heiress who didn't care about the business!" Celeste shrieked, tears ruining her expensive makeup. "You wrote those wire authorizations yourself in my office! I have the text messages! I have every single voice note you sent me telling me how to move the money!"
"Shut up! Shut your mouth, you stupid bitch!" Julian yelled back, lunging toward her, but Howard Vance stepped between them.
"That's enough!" I commanded, my voice cutting through the shouting like a iron blade.
The room went completely silent once more.
I picked up my mother's canary diamond ring from the table, wiped it carefully with a soft cloth, and slipped it into my pocket.
"Julian Bennett," I said, looking at him with total emotional detachment. "By unanimous recommendation of the board of directors and by my authority as majority shareholder, you are hereby terminated as Chief Executive Officer of Hartwell Industries, effective immediately."
Julian stared at me, his chest heaving. "You can't fire me... I built this quarter's projections! You need me!"
"We don't need a thief, Julian," I replied. "And pursuant to Section 14 of our prenuptial agreement, your termination for corporate misconduct instantly voids all stock options, severance packages, and claims to marital property."
Julian's knees visibly shook. "Maya... please... we can talk about this... we're married..."
"Not anymore," I said softly.
At that exact moment, the heavy double doors of the boardroom opened once again.
Four uniformed officers from the Chicago Police Department's Financial Crimes Unit stepped into the room, led by two federal investigators holding dark badges.
"Julian Bennett? Celeste Price?" the lead investigator asked.
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Celeste collapsed to her knees, hiding her face in her hands. Julian stood frozen, his eyes darting toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, realizing there was no exit left in the world.
"You are both under arrest for grand larceny, corporate wire fraud, and conspiracy," the officer announced, stepping forward with steel handcuffs ready.
