Chapter 8 - The Boardroom Ambush
By noon, the tension inside the glass-walled boardroom on the top floor of Falkner Tower could have cut glass. Adrian sat at the head of the long obsidian table, reviewing the final merger documents with Arthur Laurent, who looked visibly shaken from his morning encounter in South Chicago.
“Everything appears to be in order, Adrian,” Arthur said, forcing a tight, professional smile as he slid the contract forward. “Once you sign, the logistical networks merge officially on Monday.”
Adrian picked up a heavy silver fountain pen, but before the nib touched the paper, the heavy mahogany double doors of the boardroom swung wide open.
Security Chief Vance stood in the doorway, looking grim. He didn't look at Arthur; he looked straight at Adrian.
“Sir, we intercepted a suspicious wire transfer originating from a Laurent & Associates shell company this morning,” Vance said clearly. “They’ve been systematically draining the accounts of the South Chicago medical clinic where Miss Vale’s foster mother receives treatment. They were planning to cut off her power and dialysis machines by tomorrow afternoon to force Miss Vale out of the city.”
The silence in the boardroom dropped below freezing.
Adrian slowly lowered the pen. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet ten degrees. He didn't raise his voice, but every executive around the table shrank back instinctively.
“Arthur,” Adrian said softly, not looking up from the contract. “Did you authorize that transfer?”
Arthur swallowed hard, standing up from his chair. “Adrian, let’s not be hasty. That girl is a common opportunist—!”
Before Arthur could finish the sentence, Adrian stood up so fast his chair crashed backward onto the carpet. In two strides, he crossed the room, grabbed Arthur by the lapels of his expensive suit, and slammed him hard against the glass wall, overlooking the sprawling Manhattan skyline.
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“You touched her family,” Adrian whispered, his voice trembling with homicidal rage. “You threatened a dying woman just to protect your daughter’s social standing.”
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