Chapter 4 - The Boardroom ExecutionBy noon, every major financial outlet was reporting on the Aurelia scandal.
By noon, every major financial outlet was reporting on the Aurelia scandal.
Investors panicked.
Journalists gathered outside headquarters.
Employees whispered.
And inside the boardroom, fifteen directors sat around a black glass table.
At the center was Julian.
He had been escorted into the building by lawyers.
He looked furious.
"These accusations are absurd."
Martin placed a stack of documents before the directors.
"No one here has accused you of anything yet."
Julian glared.
"You revoked my authority."
"Correct."
"Without my consent."
Martin's voice remained calm.
"You were never required to consent."
Julian turned to the chairman.
"I built this company."
The chairman looked at him.
"You managed it."
"I expanded it."
"With money supplied by Aurelia Holdings."
"I made it profitable."
"Under Elena's ownership."
Julian's face twisted.
"She did nothing."
The room went silent.
Elena was not present.
But everyone knew she was watching remotely.
The chairman leaned forward.
"Choose your next words carefully."
Julian stood.
"You want a villain? Fine. Elena manipulated all of you."
Martin pressed a button.
The screen behind the table changed.
A video appeared.
Julian watched himself from eight years earlier.
Standing beside Elena.
Smiling.
Saying:
"I couldn't have done any of this without her."
The room remained silent.
Julian stared at the screen.
Martin paused the recording.
"We have forty-three such statements."
"Those were private."
"No."
Martin clicked again.
"The recordings were made during official investor presentations."
Julian looked sick.
"You're twisting everything."
"Then explain the missing funds."
Documents filled the screen.
Transfers.
Offshore accounts.
Shell corporations.
Luxury properties.
Payments.
Millions.
Then billions.
The directors shifted uneasily.
Julian slammed his hand onto the table.
"I was going to return everything."
Someone laughed.
A woman at the end of the table.
"Return it?"
She was Elena's aunt, Catherine Vale.
Julian turned.
"You."
Catherine's eyes were ice.
"You've always confused access with entitlement."
Julian's voice lowered.
"Where is Elena?"
The doors opened.
Everyone turned.
Elena walked into the room.
No black dress.
No tears.
No jewelry.
She wore a white suit.
Simple.
Elegant.
Terrifying.
Julian stared.
"You planned this."
Elena sat at the head of the table.
"No."
She looked at him.
"You planned this."
Julian laughed nervously.
"You think a few documents can destroy me?"
Elena folded her hands.
"No."
She nodded toward Martin.
"Show him the last document."
Martin placed a single envelope before Julian.
He opened it.
His face drained of color.
"What is this?"
Elena answered.
"The original succession agreement."
Julian looked closer.
A date.
Nine years old.
The year they married.
Then his eyes moved to a paragraph.
He read it twice.
His lips parted.
"No."
Elena said nothing.
Martin continued.
"Mr. Cross was required to maintain fiduciary loyalty and financial transparency. Any material breach automatically terminates his management privileges."
Julian looked at Elena.
"You knew?"
"I knew everything."
"Then why didn't you stop me?"
Elena's expression softened.
"For years, I thought you were making mistakes."
She paused.
"Then I realized you were making choices."
Julian stood.
"So this was all a test?"
"No."
Elena looked directly into his eyes.
"It was a marriage."
Her voice became quieter.
"Until you turned it into a theft."
Two security officers stepped into the room.
Julian's face hardened.
"You can't do this."
Elena nodded.
"You're right."
She looked at Martin.
"Not yet."
Martin's phone rang.
He listened.
Then his expression changed.
He placed the phone down.
"We found the person behind the offshore trust."
Elena frowned.
"Who?"
Martin looked at Julian.
"Sofia Cross."
Julian closed his eyes.
Elena leaned forward.
"Then bring her here."
May you like
Julian whispered one sentence.
"Don't."
