Chapter 4 - The Boardroom Surprise
The Manhattan skyline glittered like a shattered diamond against the midnight sky as our limousine pulled directly into the underground VIP garage of Sterling Tower.
Waiting by the private elevator bank was Arthur Sterling, along with a nervous-looking man in an expensive gray suit holding a thick leather portfolio.
“Welcome to your headquarters, Mrs. Vance,” Arthur greeted me warmly, holding the elevator door open. “Allow me to introduce Mr. Harrison Cole, your father's—ah, excuse me, your late aunt's—chief executive officer of operations for the tower.”
Harrison Cole stepped forward, offering a handshake that was slightly damp with nervous sweat. He was a man in his late fifties with slicked-back gray hair and the posture of someone accustomed to absolute corporate dominance.
Or at least, he had been until this morning.
“Mrs. Vance,” Harrison said, his tone dripping with polite condescension masked as corporate courtesy. “This is... quite a surprise. The board was under the impression that Aunt Margaret's estate was going to be tied up in probate litigation for at least two years.”
“Aunt Margaret loved surprises, Mr. Cole,” I thoroughly walked past him into the private elevator without waiting for an invitation. “Especially ones involving transparency and fiscal accountability.”
Harrison's jaw tightened slightly, a micro-expression of irritation flashing across his face. “Of course. Naturally. We have a full board meeting scheduled for 9:00 AM tomorrow morning to brief you on current tenant leases and quarterly projections.”
“Good,” I said, turning to face him as the elevator doors slide shut, sealing the four of us inside. “Make sure all department heads are present. Because the first order of business isn't going to be quarterly projections.”
“Oh?” Harrison raised an eyebrow. “And what might that be?”
“A complete forensic audit of every corporate expense account, leasing contract, and consulting fee paid out over the last five years,” I said, my voice dropping an octave into a cold, corporate register that I didn't even know I possessed. “Starting with any subsidiary shell companies operating out of the tristate area.”
Harrison's face went completely rigid. The color drained from his cheeks so fast it looked like someone had turned off a light switch inside his skull.
The elevator chimed, signaling the top-floor executive suite.
May you like
The doors glided open to reveal a sprawling, two-story glass penthouse office overlooking Central Park, complete with a marble fireplace, a private bar, and a mahogany desk large enough to land a helicopter on.
Arthur Sterling smiled softly, stepping aside to let me walk in first. “Welcome home, Mrs. Vance. Your empire awaits.”
