At eight o'clock sharp the following morning, the executive boardroom on the top floor of Vance Tower was filled with high-ranking executives in dark suits.
Marcus Sterling sat at the head of the glass conference table, looking arrogant despite the dark circles under his eyes.
He tapped his pen against his leather notepad, looking around at the eleven board members.
Marcus: Gentlemen, as you know, my son Victor is unable to attend today's emergency session due to a temporary legal misunderstanding.
Board Member 1: Misunderstanding, Marcus? News reports say he was arrested last night for corporate fraud!
Marcus: Unfounded rumors pushed by my former daughter-in-law! I assure you, our legal team will have Victor released by noon.
Board Member 2: What about the voting shares? Without Arthur or Sarah present, we don't have a legal quorum to approve the merger!
Marcus: As the primary creditor on the penthouse mortgage, my firm holds the emergency proxy rights. We will proceed with the vote immediately.
The heavy glass doors of the boardroom swung open with a dramatic bang.
Sarah walked inside wearing a sharp navy blue business suit, her hair pulled back neatly, carrying a thick black leather binder.
Mark Vance walked right beside her, accompanied by two representatives from the District Attorney's financial crimes unit.
Sarah: This meeting is officially adjourned, Marcus.
Marcus stood up quickly from his chair, his face turning red with anger.
Marcus: You have no authority in this boardroom, Sarah! You're not a board member!
Sarah: I am the primary trustee of Vance Enterprises, holding fifty-five percent of all outstanding voting shares.
Marcus: Those shares were pledged as collateral for the five-million-dollar loan!
Mark: The loan that was fraudulently executed using a forged digital signature while Arthur Vance was in a coma, Marcus.
Mark stepped forward, placing a certified court injunction directly on the glass table in front of Marcus.
Mark: This is a preliminary injunction signed by State Judge Miller, freezing all Sterling Holdings assets and revoking your proxy rights effective immediately.
The board members began whispering frantically among themselves, pulling away from Marcus as if he were contagious.
Board Member 1: Bribes?! Fraud?! Marcus, you told us the loan was fully verified by hospital counsel!
Sarah: Dr. Sterling's medical license was suspended three hours ago by the state board, gentlemen. The ICU entry logs prove the forgery beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Marcus dropped back into his leather chair, staring blankly at the court papers in front of him.
Marcus: You... you ruined us...
Sarah: You ruined yourselves the moment you decided to treat my family like a target for theft.
The two financial crime investigators stepped up behind Marcus's chair.
Investigator Holt: Marcus Sterling, you need to come with us for questioning regarding corporate embezzlement and wire fraud.
Marcus offered no resistance as he stood up slowly, allowing the investigators to escort him out of the room past the shocked eyes of the board.
Sarah walked up to the head of the glass conference table, sitting down in the center leather chair that used to belong to her father.
Sarah: Gentlemen, let's discuss the future of Vance Enterprises under new, honest leadership.