Chapter 4 - The Tables Turn
"Turn that off!" Julian screamed, lunging across the table toward the projector console, but two burly corporate security guards—previously stationed outside the doors by Maya—stepped inside the room with incredible speed, grabbing Julian by both arms and forcing him back into his chair with iron grips.
"Let me go! You can't do this! I am the COO of this company!" Julian thralled wildly, his manicured image completely destroyed, revealing the desperate, cornered fraud underneath.
Maya didn't even flinch as she watched him thrash. She slowly walked around the granite table until she stood right beside his chair, looking down at him with cold, merciless detachment.
"You always underestimated the Sterling bloodline, Julian," Maya said quietly. "You thought because Grandpa liked to tell bad jokes, he had lost his edge. You thought because I focused on balance sheets, I wouldn't notice a missing decimal point in our European logistics ledger. You played a very expensive game. And now, you lose."
The heavy boardroom doors pushed open once more.
Two federal marshals in dark suits stepped into the room, their badges flashing brightly under the fluorescent lights. They walked straight up to Julian, ignoring his frantic protests, and ratcheted heavy steel handcuffs around his wrists with two sharp, clicking snaps.
"Julian Vance—also known as Julian Sterling—you are under arrest for wire fraud, corporate identity theft, and grand larceny," the lead marshal stated coldly.
As they hoisted Julian to his feet and dragged him backward toward the exit doors, Julian glared at Maya with pure, venomous hatred. "This isn't over! I'll ruin you! I'll take down the whole damn company with me!"
"Save your breath for your defense attorney," Maya replied without blinking.
The heavy mahogany doors closed behind them, swallowing Julian’s furious threats and leaving the boardroom wrapped in a profound, heavy stillness.
For nearly ten seconds, no one spoke. The twelve board members sat frozen, looking between Maya and the wheelchair at the head of the table.
Then, Arthur Sterling slowly raised his head.
The frail, sickly posture vanished. He sat up straight in his wheelchair, his blue eyes sparkling with irrepressible mischief, and a broad, triumphant grin spread across his wrinkled face. He reached out, grabbed his heavy crystal tumbler of water, and took a slow, leisurely sip.
"Well," Arthur rumbled, breaking the silence with his booming baritone. "I suppose that concludes our morning entertainment. Now, if we can all turn our attention to page four of the quarterly financial projections—which my brilliant granddaughter so kindly audited—let’s get back to making some actual money."
May you like
A collective murmur of nervous laughter rippled through the board members, followed immediately by enthusiastic nods of agreement.
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