Chapter 8 - The Boardroom Showdown
Thorne recovered his composure with terrifying speed, his face hardening into a mask of corporate ice. "This is a prank. A sick impersonation. Thomas Sterling died in a plane crash fifteen years ago. Security—remove these intruders immediately."
"Don't bother calling security, Alistair," Marcus said loudly, stepping forward and tossing a thick stack of federal arrest warrants and court orders onto the mahogany table. "Federal Marshals are currently securing the lobby, freezing all corporate accounts tied to Thorne’s equity fund, and executing search warrants on Celeste’s personal residences."
Celeste lunged forward, grabbing the edge of the table. "You have no proof! These documents are unauthorized—"
"They’re authorized by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York," a calm, authoritative voice spoke from the doorway.
Agent Miller of the FBI’s White-Collar Crime Division stepped into the room, flanked by two federal agents in dark tactical gear. He walked directly toward Celeste and placed a heavy pair of steel handcuffs on the table in front of her.
"Celeste Moreau, you are under arrest for corporate embezzlement, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping," Agent Miller announced, his voice echoing in the silent boardroom.
Nathan slumped forward in his chair, burying his face in his hands as federal agents moved behind him as well. "Nathan Romano, you are being detained for accessory to fraud and corporate racketeering."
"Wait!" Nathan sobbed, looking frantically across the table at me. "Emma, please! Thorne tricked me! He said if I helped him push you out, we would share the retail division! I was just a pawn!"
"You weren't a pawn, Nathan," I said, walking slowly toward him until I stood right beside his chair. "You were a bully who thought he could use physical violence and intimidation to steal what my family built. You made your choice when you raised your hand against me in your store."
Thorne backed away toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, his face twisted in rage. "You think you’ve won, Thomas? The board still votes on the restructuring. Without my majority support—"
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"Your majority support is currently being indicted for federal tax evasion and money laundering, Alistair," my father interrupted, stepping up to the head of the table and placing his hand firmly on the back of the chairman’s chair. "And as the primary voting shareholder of Sterling-Vance Enterprises—a status restored by federal injunction this morning—my first official act as returning CEO is to permanently strip you of your title, your shares, and your pension."
Two federal agents stepped up to Thorne, clicking the handcuffs onto his wrists with a sharp, metallic snap.
