An hour later, the funeral hall had been transformed into an emergency meeting room. The heavy velvet curtains were pulled back, allowing bright natural sunlight to flood the polished marble floors.
All nine members of the Vance Enterprises board of directors sat in a semi-circle around the main stage, their laptop screens open as Mr. Harrison passed out official legal folders.
Mr. Harrison: Before us today is the formal ratification of Richard Vance's final corporate decree.
Board Member 1: Mr. Harrison, we have all seen the evidence on screen. The fraud committed by Victoria Vance is undeniable.
Board Member 2: But we need to discuss leadership. Chloe is only eighteen years old. Does she have the experience to run a two-hundred-million-dollar manufacturing corporation?
Chloe stepped up to the podium, placing her hands firmly on the wooden edges as she looked each board member directly in the eye.
Chloe: You wonder if I have experience, Mr. Davies. Let me tell you about my experience over the last six months.
Board Member 2: I am only asking out of duty to our shareholders, Chloe.
Chloe: While Victoria was spending company funds on personal trips, I was working directly with our plant managers in Ohio to resolve the supply chain bottleneck.
Board Member 1: Wait... you were the one who negotiated the new steel contracts in April?
Chloe: My father was too weak to travel, so he coached me from his hospital bed. I flew to Cleveland myself, sat in the meeting room for seven hours, and secured a twelve percent discount on raw materials.
The board members looked at each other in surprise, opening their folders to check the signed contract records.
Board Member 3: That contract saved us three million dollars this quarter! We thought Richard signed that electronically!
Chloe: My father signed it, but I negotiated every single clause. I know our operations, I know our employees by name, and I know how to protect this company from predators like Victoria.
Mr. Harrison: Furthermore, Richard's will leaves fifty-one percent of all voting shares directly to Chloe. She already holds majority control.
Board Member 1: Then there is no need for further debate. I motion to officially confirm Chloe Vance as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Vance Enterprises.
Board Member 2: I second that motion!
Board Member 3: All in favor?
Every single board member raised their hand high in the air, without a single objection in the room.
Board Member 1: Motion passed unanimously. Congratulations, Chairman Vance.
The room erupted into genuine applause, the board members standing up to shake Chloe's hand one by one.
Chloe felt a warm tear slide down her cheek, but this time it was not a tear of grief or fear. It was a tear of absolute triumph.
Chloe: Thank you, everyone. Our first order of business is restoring the one point two million dollars to the employee health fund immediately.
Board Member 1: Excellent choice, Chloe. Your father would be smiling right now.
Chloe: He's watching us right now, Mr. Davies. And we are going to make this company stronger than it has ever been.