At two o'clock sharp, the high-rise conference room at Vance Group headquarters was filled with corporate board members in dark suits. The atmosphere was thick with tension as murmurs echoed around the long mahogany table.
Julian sat near the head of the table, his fingers nervously tapping against a glass of water. Victoria sat right behind him in a visitor chair, her face pale and rigid.
Board Member 1: Julian, the public fallout from last night's video is destroying our brand image. Our major retail partners are threatening to pull their contracts!
Julian: It was a private family matter that was blown out of proportion by my bitter ex-wife!
Board Member 2: She isn't your ex-wife yet, Julian. And pushing a pregnant woman is not a 'private family matter.' It's a corporate liability!
Victoria: My son made a mistake under immense stress! The woman was harassing him!
The heavy glass boardroom doors swung open. Mara walked in, wearing an elegant dark navy maternity suit, her red hair styled impeccably. Beside her walked Arthur Pendelton, carrying a thick leather briefcase.
Julian: What is she doing here?! Security, escort her out!
Board Member 1: Sit down, Julian! Mrs. Vance requested an audience with the board, and as a major stakeholder representative, she has the right to speak.
Mara: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the board.
Mara took a seat at the foot of the table, resting her hands calmly over her stomach.
Arthur: Members of the board, my client is here today to formally notify the executive committee of a major legal shift in shareholder representation.
Julian: She doesn't own any shares! Her name isn't on the corporate register!
Arthur: Under Section Nine of Senior Vance's original 2018 Estate Trust, thirty percent of corporate voting shares were placed in escrow for the first legitimate grandchild of the Vance bloodline.
Arthur pulled a certified legal document from his briefcase, sliding copies across the glass table to each board member.
Arthur: As Mrs. Mara Vance is the lawful wife of Julian Vance, her unborn child holds full beneficial ownership of those escrow shares, effective immediately upon formal legal notice.
Board Member 2: My goodness... Senior Vance's escrow clause! I completely forgot about that condition!
Board Member 1: That means Mara controls thirty percent of the voting stock through her guardianship of the heir!
Victoria: That's absurd! Chloe is carrying Julian's son too!
Arthur: Miss Chloe Miller is not legally married to Mr. Julian Vance. Under federal probate law and the explicit terms of Senior Vance's trust, non-marital offspring are excluded from the primary voting escrow shares.
Julian stood up abruptly, slamming his hands onto the table.
Julian: This is a corporate ambush! You can't use my father's trust against me!
Mara: Your father built this company on integrity, Julian. You tried to steal the trust funds to cover your personal debts and finance your affair.
Board Member 1: Personal debts? What personal debts?
Mara: Arthur, show them the bank statements.
Arthur slid a second set of documents across the table.
Arthur: Over the last eighteen months, Mr. Julian Vance has siphoned over two million dollars from corporate marketing funds into offshore accounts to cover personal gambling losses in Macao.
The boardroom erupted into loud, angry shouts from the board members.
Board Member 2: Two million dollars?! Embezzlement?!
Board Member 1: This is treason against the shareholders!
Julian: It... it was an investment! I was going to pay it back next month!
Victoria: Julian, tell me this isn't true!
Mara: As the representative controlling thirty percent of the voting shares, I hereby move for an immediate vote to remove Julian Vance from his position as Vice President and strip him of all executive authority.
Board Member 1: I second the motion!
Board Member 2: All in favor, raise your hands!
Every single board member around the long table raised their hand, including Senior Vance's oldest business partners.
Board Member 1: The motion carries unanimously. Julian Vance, you are terminated effective immediately. Please vacate the premises by five o'clock.
Julian sank back into his chair, his face completely pale as Victoria began weeping silently behind him.
Mara: Oh, and Julian?
Julian slowly looked up at Mara, his eyes filled with defeat.
Mara: The forensic auditors are already downstairs with the police. You might want to call a very good criminal defense attorney.