By six o'clock that evening, the rain began to pour over the glass skyscrapers of the financial district.
Inside the high-rise office of Miller Logistics, eight board members sat around a long black oak table. The room was heavy with tension.
Julian burst through the double doors, his suit soaked with rain, his hair messy, and his eyes bloodshot.
Julian: What is the meaning of this emergency meeting?! Why wasn't I informed until an hour ago?!
Board Member 1: Sit down, Julian.
Julian: I am the CEO of this company! You don't tell me to sit down, Richard!
Board Member 1: You were the CEO as of five o'clock this afternoon. Things have changed.
Julian: What are you talking about?!
The door at the far end of the boardroom opened slowly. Arthur Vance walked in, wearing a fresh charcoal suit, flanked by two top corporate attorneys carrying thick black leather binders.
Julian froze, his throat going completely dry.
Julian: Mr. Vance... you have no right to be in a private board meeting for my company.
Arthur: Is that so? Richard, please inform Mr. Miller of the current ownership structure.
Board Member 1: Mr. Vance purchased fifty-two percent of our outstanding voting shares forty-five minutes ago through a private debt buyout.
Julian: What?! Where did he get fifty-two percent?!
Board Member 2: From the rest of us, Julian. When the news hit that your personal accounts were frozen and the Vance Trust withdrew its commercial backing, the stock crashed forty percent.
Board Member 1: We sold our shares to salvage what we could before the company collapsed entirely.
Julian slumped into an empty leather chair at the foot of the table, his hands trembling as he stared at his former partners.
Julian: You sold me out... all of you!
Board Member 2: You brought this on yourself, Julian. We heard what happened at the mansion. We don't do business with men who abuse their wives.
Arthur: As the majority shareholder, I am officially calling a vote to remove Julian Miller from his position as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
Board Member 1: All in favor?
Every single board member raised their hand without hesitation.
Arthur: Motion passed unanimously.
Julian: You can't just throw me out! I founded this firm!
Arthur: You founded it with my daughter's capital, using her connections, and riding on her father's name. You are an empty shell, Julian.
Arthur signaled to his lead lawyer, who slid a thick document across the table toward Julian.
Lawyer: This is a notice of intent to sue for corporate embezzlement, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraud. We are seeking damages in the amount of twelve million dollars.
Julian: Twelve million?! I don't have twelve million dollars!
Lawyer: Then the court will liquidate your personal assets, including your luxury vehicles, your private club memberships, and any future earnings you make for the rest of your life.
Julian: Mr. Vance, please! I'm begging you! Think about Vanessa! She wouldn't want you to destroy me like this!
Arthur walked slowly down the length of the table, stopping right beside Julian's chair. He leaned down, his voice dropping to a low, lethal whisper.
Arthur: Vanessa was the one who asked me to do this. Those were her exact words on the phone while she lay bleeding on your floor.
Julian felt a cold shiver run down his spine as Arthur straightened his tie and turned toward the door.
Arthur: Security will escort you from the building. If you ever set foot on any property owned by Vance Holdings again, you will be arrested on sight.