Chapter 5 - The Boardroom Coup
The boardroom of Vance Construction was a theater of tension.
Twelve board members sat around the massive mahogany table, murmuring nervously.
At the head of the table sat Dominic, sweating through his freshly pressed suit.
He was trying to project confidence, but his shaking hands betrayed him.
The clock struck twelve. The heavy double doors remained closed.
“Where is the representative from Apex?” Dominic asked, his voice cracking slightly.
“They assured us they would be here,” one of the senior directors replied.
Just as Dominic was about to speak again, the heavy oak doors swung open.
The room fell dead silent.
I walked in.
I was wearing a tailored, crimson power suit that cost more than Dominic’s entire current net worth.
My hair was styled in sleek, razor-sharp waves, and my makeup was flawless, highlighting the coldness in my eyes.
Behind me walked Sophia and Julian, carrying leather briefcases.
Dominic stared at me, his jaw dropping so far it practically hit the table.
“Audrey?” he whispered, his brain failing to process the image before him.
“What are you doing here? How did you get past security?”
He immediately stood up, a sudden, desperate hope lighting up his eyes.
“Did you come back? Baby, I’m so sorry about everything. Please, we can fix this. You just have to leave, I have a massive meeting with the owner of Apex—”
“Sit down, Mr. Vance,” I commanded.
My voice didn't echo. It sliced through the room like a scalpel.
Dominic froze, utterly bewildered by my tone.
“Audrey, what is going on? You can’t be in here.”
Julian stepped forward, placing a thick stack of documents on the center of the table.
“Gentlemen,” Julian announced to the board. “Allow me to introduce the sole owner and CEO of Apex Holdings.”
He gestured respectfully toward me.
“Ms. Audrey Sterling.”
(I had reclaimed my maiden name the day I signed the divorce papers).
A collective gasp rippled through the older board members.
Dominic collapsed back into his leather chair, the color completely draining from his face.
His eyes darted from me, to Julian, to the papers, and back to me.
“No,” Dominic mumbled, shaking his head. “No, that’s impossible. You… you don’t have any money.”
“I have eighty million dollars, Dominic,” I said calmly, taking the seat directly opposite him at the far end of the table.
“And I used a fraction of it to save your pathetic, failing business two years ago because I believed in you.”
I leaned forward, steepling my fingers.
“I believed in us. But while I was secretly funding your extravagant lifestyle, you and your mother were treating me like dirt on your expensive shoes.”
“Audrey, please—”
“Do not interrupt me,” I snapped, the authority in my voice pinning him to his seat.
“I own sixty-two percent of this company. I own the building we are sitting in. I own the patent for your latest construction tech.”
I looked around the room at the silent board members.
“Effective immediately, Dominic Vance is removed from his position as CEO, pending an investigation into corporate embezzlement to fund his extramarital affairs.”
Dominic choked on his own breath. “You can't do this! This is my family's legacy!”
“It was your legacy. Now, it’s my asset. And I’m liquidating you out of it.”
Sophia handed a single sheet of paper to Dominic.
“These are your termination papers,” I said. “And a restraining order. You have five minutes to vacate my building before security physically throws you out.”
Dominic looked at me, tears of pure terror and regret finally spilling down his cheeks.
“Audrey… my baby… I loved you.”
I felt a twinge of the old pain, but I crushed it instantly.
“You didn’t love me, Dominic. You loved having someone to step on.”
I stood up, adjusting my jacket.
May you like
“And just a reminder. The police have an arrest warrant waiting for your mother downstairs for assault and battery. Enjoy the family you chose.”
I turned and walked out of the room, leaving Dominic sobbing into his hands.
