Chapter 4 - The Boardroom Siege
Forty-eight hours later.
The high-rise headquarters of Hayes Global Logistics stood at the heart of Manhattan’s financial district. On the fortieth floor, inside the grand glass boardroom, an emergency meeting of the executive board was in full swing.
Matthew Hayes sat at the head of the long mahogany table, wearing an expensive navy suit. Beside him sat Seraphina Rivers and her father, Arthur Rivers, the lead investor holding twenty percent of the company's voting shares.
"The press release is going out at noon," Matthew said smoothly, clicking through a slide presentation on the screen behind him. "We are characterizing Elise's hospitalization as a pre-existing medical complication. We express our deepest sympathies, but emphasize that Hayes Global remains completely stable under my leadership."
An older board member frowned, tapping his pen. "What about Thorne? The rumors circulating around the city are catastrophic, Matthew. People are saying Thorne took your pregnant wife from the gala after she was assault—"
"Thorne is a criminal!" Seraphina interrupted sharply, tossing her dark hair back. "He staged an unprovoked scene to sabotage our stock merger with my father's firm! Elise went into hysterics because of stress, tripped on her gown, and Thorne used it as a publicity stunt!"
"Is that the story you're going with, Seraphina?"
A cold, deep voice shattered the air from the entrance of the boardroom.
Every head turned in terror.
The heavy mahogany doors didn't open—they were shoved inward as Johnny Thorne stepped into the boardroom, wearing a dark charcoal double-breasted suit. Behind him, four heavy security guards from Hayes Global were lying unconscious on the marble corridor floor.
Matthew sprang out of his chair, his face turning instantly white. "Thorne! You can't just barge into a private board meeting! Security!"
"Your security team is currently resting outside, Hayes," Vance said coldly, stepping in behind Johnny while carrying a black leather briefcase.
Arthur Rivers stood up, pointing an trembling finger at Johnny. "I am calling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Thorne! You've crossed the line!"
Johnny ignored Arthur completely. He walked to the head of the table, pulled out a leather chair opposite Matthew, and sat down comfortably, crossing one leg over the other.
"Let's talk business," Johnny said smoothly, tapping his fingers on the table.
"We have nothing to talk about!" Matthew yelled, his hands shaking. "Elise is my wife! Whatever sick fairy tale you're spinning, legally, I am her husband! I control her medical power of attorney, and I control her shared assets!"
"Correction," Johnny said, raising one finger. "You were her husband."
Vance stepped forward, opening the leather briefcase and sliding a thick stack of legal documents across the shiny surface of the table directly toward Matthew.
"What is this?" Matthew snapped, glaring at the papers.
"An immediate petition for divorce on the grounds of severe spousal abuse, gross negligence, and attempted murder," Johnny explained calmly. "Along with a full restraining order signed by a federal judge an hour ago. You are not allowed within five hundred yards of Elise or her daughter."
Matthew let out a nervous, mocking laugh. "Attempted murder? Are you insane? You have no proof of anything! It was a private room full of my friends—"
"A private room with thirty-four security cameras," Johnny interrupted, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement.
Seraphina froze, the color draining instantly from her face. "The grand ballroom cameras were wiped... my father paid the hotel manager..."
"Your father paid a manager who works for my subsidiary company," Johnny revealed, leaning forward. "Did you really think you could buy silence in a city where I own the whisperers?"
Johnny tapped a remote control on the table. The massive wall screen behind Matthew flickered to life.
High-definition, crystal-clear footage from the gala played out across the forty-foot screen. The video clearly showed Seraphina shouting at Elise, shoving her hard onto the floor, and deliberately swinging her sharp high heel directly into Elise’s pregnant stomach while Matthew stood three feet away, watching callously without lifting a finger.
The entire boardroom went dead silent. Several older board members gasped in absolute disgust, looking at Matthew and Seraphina with horror.
"This footage has already been delivered to the District Attorney's office," Johnny said softly, watching Matthew's soul leave his eyes. "In thirty minutes, an arrest warrant will be issued for Seraphina Rivers for aggravated felony assault on a pregnant woman."
Seraphina shrieked, clutching her father's arm. "Daddy! Do something! He's bluffing!"
"I don't bluff, sweetheart," Johnny said coldly. He then looked directly at Arthur Rivers. "And as for you, Arthur... your hedge fund relies heavily on maritime shipping routes through the Port of Newark, doesn't it?"
Arthur swallowed hard, his throat going completely dry. "Thorne... let's be reasonable here—"
"All shipping privileges for Rivers Capital have been revoked as of eight o'clock this morning," Johnny announced. "Your cargo ships are currently stuck six miles offshore in international waters, costing you four hundred thousand dollars every hour they sit idle."
Arthur collapsed back into his leather chair, clutching his chest in sheer panic. "You... you can't do that!"
"I just did," Johnny replied smoothly.
He then turned his attention back to Matthew, who was sitting frozen, sweating profusely through his high-end suit.
"And now, Hayes, let's talk about Hayes Global," Johnny said, leaning his elbows on the table. "Over the last forty-eight hours, my financial team has quietly purchased forty-six percent of your publicly traded stock through offshore proxy funds. Combined with the fourteen percent held in Elise's name..." Johnny smiled, a terrifying, predatory expression. "...I now hold sixty percent of your company."
Matthew stared at him in utter disbelief. "No... no, that's impossible! The board would never approve—"
"The board serves at the pleasure of the majority shareholder," Johnny interrupted softly. He stood up, looking down at the broken CEO. "Matthew Hayes, as majority owner of Hayes Global, your contract as Chief Executive Officer is officially terminated. Effective immediately."
Johnny turned to Vance. "Escort Mr. Hayes from the building. If he attempts to take a single pen from his office, have him arrested for corporate theft."
"You monster!" Matthew screamed, lunging across the table toward Johnny. "You stole my company! You stole my wife!"
Vance caught Matthew by the collar in mid-air, slamming him hard down onto the table and pinning his face against the polished wood.
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Johnny stooped down, bringing his face inches away from Matthew's ear.
"I didn't steal her, Matthew," Johnny whispered, his voice dark and merciless. "She was never yours to begin with. You were just holding her place until I came back."
