Chapter 4 - THE BOARDROOM COUP
At 9:00 AM the following morning, the grand 30th-floor boardroom of Hollis Transit Systems was packed with twelve of the city's most powerful institutional investors, bank executives, and board members.
At the head of the mahogany table sat Adrian, flanked by Sterling and two private security guards he had illegally hired to block the entrance.
"Gentlemen," Adrian announced, sweat glistening on his forehead as he addressed the board. "What happened yesterday in court was a temporary domestic dispute orchestrated by an emotionally unstable ex-spouse. My legal team is filing an emergency motion to void her claims. The IPO will proceed as scheduled on Friday."
"Is that so, Adrian?"
The heavy double doors of the boardroom were pushed open.
Dante Miller—the company’s original Chief Technology Officer and the only man who knew the backend code of HTS better than anyone—walked in. Beside him walked Elena.
Adrian’s security guards stepped forward to block them, but Dante immediately produced two federal marshals standing directly behind them.
"Step aside," the lead marshal warned the guards. "This is an active court-ordered audit."
The board members gasped, several standing up from their chairs in confusion.
"Dante?!" Adrian stammered, his face twisting in rage. "You backstabbing bastard! I hired you!"
"No, Adrian," Dante corrected calmly, standing beside Elena. "Elena hired me twelve years ago when you were still trying to sell used cars in Naperville. She paid my first six months' salary out of her own pocket."
Dante walked to the main projection screen and plugged a encrypted silver flash drive into the system.
The main monitor flickered to life, displaying a complex web of offshore banking transactions originating from HTS treasury accounts and terminating in shell accounts registered in the Cayman Islands under the name C. VANCE HOLDINGS.
Chloe Vance.
The board members began shouting over one another, pointing at the screen in absolute horror.
"Over the last three years," Elena announced, her voice ringing clearly across the room, "Adrian Hollis has embezzled forty-two million dollars from HTS corporate reserves to fund his private lifestyle, purchase luxury yachts, and bankroll his mistress's fake interior design firm."
"That's a lie! That's a setup!" Adrian screamed, slamming his fists onto the table. "Sterling, do something!"
Richard Sterling looked at the screen, then looked at the two federal marshals standing at the door. He slowly gathered his leather notepad, snapped his briefcase shut, and leaned over to whisper in Adrian’s ear.
"You're on your own, Adrian. If those records are real, this isn't divorce court anymore. This is grand larceny and federal wire fraud."
Sterling turned on his heel and walked out of the room, leaving Adrian completely abandoned at the head of the table.
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Elena stood tall at the foot of the table, looking down at her broken husband.
"Board members," Elena stated firmly. "By virtue of my 100% founding equity, I hereby remove Adrian Hollis from his position as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Security will escort him off the premises."
