Chapter 8 - The Fall of Julian Vance
Before Julian could utter another word, the heavy oak doors of the boardroom swung open once more.
Four armed federal agents from the Securities and Exchange Commission, accompanied by three officers from the New York Police Department, marched into the room.
"Julian Vance? Victoria Vance?" the lead federal agent announced, pulling out a pair of warrants. "You are under arrest for corporate espionage, market manipulation, wire fraud, and illegal bribery."
"This is a mistake! You can't do this!" Victoria shrieked as an officer grabbed her arms and snapped steel handcuffs around her wrists. "Julian, do something!"
Julian backed away toward the window, his eyes wild with desperation, but two police officers quickly stepped behind him, forcing his arms behind his back and clicking the cuffs tight.
"Adelaide! Please!" Julian begged, his voice cracking into a pathetic whine as he was dragged toward the door. "We can make a deal! Think of the company! Think of the stock price!"
Adelaide walked over to him, stopping just inches from his pale, trembling face.
"I am thinking of the company, Julian," Adelaide said coldly. "And I'm thinking of my daughter."
Kalista stepped up beside her mother. She looked Julian straight in the eye, lifted her small hand, and made a slow, deliberate sign: Goodbye.
Serena, standing near the door, translated alolud with a proud grin: "She says goodbye!"
The entire boardroom watched in awe as the once-powerful Julian Vance and his sister were dragged down the hallway in chains, surrounded by news reporters who had gathered in the lobby to document their downfall.
Adelaide turned back to the remaining board members, who were sitting in terrified silence.
"As for Mr. Pendelton, Mr. Thorne, and Mrs. Vance," Adelaide said smoothly, "your resignations from this board will be on my desk by noon today, or the SEC will receive the complete unredacted files on your offshore accounts."
The three corrupted board members didn't argue. They gathered their papers with trembling hands and rushed out of the room like beaten dogs.
The remaining honest board members stood up one by one, clapping their hands in a growing ovation.
"Mrs. Sterling," senior board member Thomas Wright said, walking over to shake her hand. "That was the most remarkable defense of a corporation I have ever witnessed. You have our full, undivided support."
Adelaide smiled, but she didn't look at Thomas.
She turned, walked over to Elias, and held out her hand. "Thank you, Elias. You saved my family."
May you like
Elias took her hand, shaking it warmly. "We saved it together, Mrs. Sterling."
Kalista tugged on both of their sleeves, pulled their hands down, and wrapped her arms around their legs, joining all three of them in a tight embrace right in the center of the boardroom.
