Chapter 5 - CLAUSE 7 REVEALED
"What... what absurdity are you talking about?" Richard stammered, standing up so fast his chair screeched against the floorboards. "Marcus, have you lost your mind? We are your family!"
"Jonathan, read Clause 7 aloud for the board and the court reporter," Marcus commanded smoothly.
Mr. Sterling pulled out a single sheet of parchment, stamped with the official seal of the Federal District Court.
"Clause 7," Sterling read with dry, lethal precision, "states that any signee who attempts to obtain corporate governance through coercion, illegal surveillance, blackmail, or domestic abuse against an officer's immediate dependents shall automatically forfeit all family trust funds, surrender all property deeds registered under the Vance corporate umbrella, and consent to an immediate, non-negotiable forensic audit of their personal financial holdings."
"That's illegal! That's a trick!" Eleanor screamed, dropping her handbag. "You set us up!"
"I didn't set you up, Mother," Marcus said, his voice icy and clear. "You set yourselves up the moment you locked my pregnant wife in a broom closet."
Marcus hit a button on the conference room console.
Suddenly, high-definition audio filled the room, blasting through the surround-sound speakers. It was the recording Marcus had taken two nights ago:
“Let her eat the scraps. A useless woman doesn’t deserve a seat at our table.” (Victoria’s voice echoed clearly). “Tomorrow, once Marcus signs the power of attorney, this nightmare is over. We’ll tell him Clara left because she wanted to.” (Eleanor’s voice laughed dryly). “First we clear her and the boy out of the house. Then we transfer the corporate shares...” (Richard’s voice boomed).
The board members gasped in horror. Several turned their heads in absolute disgust, staring at the three pretenders standing at the side of the room.
"Furthermore," Marcus continued, tapping his tablet, "the medical reports are in. Clara suffered severe malnutrition, physical wrist bruising from forced confinement, and emotional trauma. Leo was found hiding dry bread in his pockets because you starved them for two weeks while I was closing contracts in Chicago."
"Marcus, please!" Victoria began to cry, her phone falling from her trembling hands. "It was Dad's idea! He said we needed the money because my fashion line went bankrupt!"
"Shut your mouth, you fool!" Richard yelled, turning on his daughter in a panic.
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"It's too late," Marcus said quietly.
The heavy mahogany double doors of the boardroom swung open. Four uniformed officers from the Lake Forest Police Department, accompanied by agents from the financial crimes unit, stepped inside.
