Chapter 6 - The Boardroom Coup
The 40th-floor boardroom of Bennett Global commanded a panoramic view of Narragansett Bay. But inside, the atmosphere was as tense as a courtroom before a murder verdict.
Fourteen board members sat around the thirty-foot mahogany table. Whispers flew across the room as people looked at the front pages of the morning newspapers placed at every seat:
NEWPORT WEDDING HORROR: SHIPPING MAGNATE STOLE MILLIONS FROM DAUGHTER FOR MISTRESS BENNETT GLOBAL STOCK PLUMMETS AS CEO FACES FEDERAL INDICTMENT
At the head of the table sat Arthur Vance, acting as emergency chairman.
The heavy double doors swept open.
Chloe walked in, flanked by Alex Mercer and her legal team. She walked with effortless grace, pulling out the leather executive chair at the head of the table—the chair that had belonged to her mother ten years ago, and to Richard ever since.
She sat down calmly, crossing her hands over the marble table.
"Good morning, members of the board," Chloe said, her clear, crisp voice instantly cutting through the noise.
"Miss Bennett," one elder board member stammered nervously. "We... we are all deeply shocked by the events of last night. But legally, your father is still the Chief Executive Officer until a formal shareholder vote—"
"My father is no longer CEO," Chloe interrupted smoothly.
She gestured to her chief counsel, who passed thick leather binders to every board member.
"Page three," Chloe instructed. "You will find the certified, unsealed copy of Eleanor Bennett’s original 2018 revocable trust. Under Clause 12B, fifty-one percent of all class-A voting shares were held in trust for me, to be automatically transferred upon my twenty-sixth birthday, or immediately triggered upon proof of corporate embezzlement by the designated trustee."
The board members frantically flipped through the pages.
"Page twelve," Chloe continued, her tone steady and unyielding. "You will find the forensic audit completed by Mercer Capital. It details three years of systematic embezzlement by Richard Bennett, totaling $14.2 million, redirected into offshore accounts managed by Valerie Du Pont."
Gasps echoed around the table.
"This is indisputable proof of breach of fiduciary duty, grand larceny, and corporate fraud," Alex Mercer added, leaning forward from his seat beside Chloe. "Mercer Capital, holding twenty percent of the company’s debt, fully backs Chloe Bennett as the rightful controlling shareholder and permanent Chairwoman of Bennett Global."
Arthur Vance closed his binder with a heavy thud. He looked around the table at the terrified board members.
"All those in favor of immediately removing Richard Bennett as CEO and terminating his employment with cause, raise your hand," Arthur declared.
Every single hand at the table went up instantly.
"All those in favor of appointing Chloe Bennett as Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Bennett Global," Arthur continued.
Every hand remained raised.
"Unanimous," Arthur declared, offering Chloe a deep, respectful nod. "Congratulations, Chairwoman Bennett. Take your company back."
At that exact moment, the boardroom doors swung open again.
Two federal agents walked in, holding a warrant.
"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen," the lead agent said. "We are here to execute a federal search warrant for all physical and digital records located in the CEO’s master office."
Chloe stood up, smoothing her suit jacket. "The office is down the hall on the left, Agent. My team has already compiled all server logs and financial keys for your investigation. You'll find everything you need."
"Thank you, Miss Bennett," the agent nodded. "By the way, your father was just taken into custody in the parking garage. He tried to force his way into the executive elevator."
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Chloe felt a brief, passing shadow of sorrow for the man her father used to be—the man who loved her mother decades ago. But that man was long gone, consumed by greed and vanity.
"Thank you, Agent," Chloe said quietly. "Let justice be served."
