Chapter 5 - The Chairman’s Secret
The silence that fell over the Sterling estate was absolute. You could hear the distant crash of the Atlantic waves hitting the cliff below, and nothing else.
Victoria’s jaw dropped so low I thought it might detach. Liam stared at Arthur Vance as if the older man had just spoken in ancient Sumerian.
“Chairman?” Liam choked out, looking between Arthur and me. “What are you talking about? Arthur, Vance Global has been trying to hostile-takeover Sterling Enterprises for three years! What does she have to do with this?”
Arthur Vance chuckled—a deep, rumbling sound of pure amusement. He turned his gaze to Liam, his eyes cold as winter ice.
“Boy,” Arthur said, his voice dripping with condescension. “You really had no idea who you were married to, did you? When Gina walked out of your estate five years ago with a pittance of a settlement, she didn't crawl away to lick her wounds. She walked straight into my office with a portfolio of proprietary green-energy patents she coded during her master’s at MIT—patents your own father rejected because he thought clean tech was a fad.”
My smile widened. I slipped my hand into the crook of Arthur’s arm, leaning against him effortlessly.
“Thank you, Arthur,” I said softly.
“My pleasure, my dear,” Arthur replied, patting my hand. He looked back at Liam. “We formed a partnership. I provided the capital; she provided the genius. Over the last five years, Gina’s firm quietly bought up over fifty-one percent of Sterling Enterprises' voting shares through various shell companies. As of ten minutes ago, the legal paperwork was filed with the SEC.”
Arthur leaned in, whispering the final blow so only Liam, Victoria, and the front row could hear.
“You aren't the CEO waiting in the wings anymore, Liam. And this grand estate? It was foreclosed on by our holding company this morning to cover your mother’s back-taxes and embezzlement loans.”
Victoria gasped, clutching her chest, and staggered backward into the arms of a terrified bridesmaid.
“No,” Liam whispered, shaking his head in frantic denial. “No, that’s impossible. My father—the board—!”
“Your father is retired, and your board voted unanimously yesterday morning,” Arthur said smoothly. He turned to me, his expression softening with genuine respect. “Shall we go inside, Madam Chairwoman? Your new employees are waiting to greet you.”
I looked down at my triplets, who were still holding hands, looking wonderfully bored by the corporate coup happening around them.
“Lead the way, Arthur,” I said.
I turned my back on Liam, on Victoria, and on the ruined wedding, and began walking toward the grand double doors of the ballroom.
As we reached the threshold, Liam’s voice cracked behind me, desperate and broken.
“Gina... please. Just talk to me.”
I didn't stop. I didn't even turn around.
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“Save your breath, Liam,” I called back over my shoulder, my voice echoing off the marble pillars. “You wanted an heir. You wanted a legacy. Well... you’re looking at it. But you’ll need an appointment with my secretary just to speak to them.”
I stepped into the grand ballroom, the crystal chandeliers glittering above us like a million falling stars, ready to take back my empire.
