Chapter 7 - The Boardroom Coup
The boardroom of Reed Tech was a masterpiece of modern architecture, suspended on the 40th floor with floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooking the city.
At 9:00 AM sharp, the doors swung open.
I walked in.
I wore the crimson suit, my hair pulled back, my heels clicking sharply against the polished concrete floor. Arthur Pendelton walked one step behind me, carrying a sleek black briefcase.
The twelve members of the board of directors were already seated.
At the head of the table sat Daniel.
He looked terrible. He had tried to pull himself together, but the dark circles under his eyes and the slight tremor in his hands betrayed his panic.
"Ava," he said, trying to force a tone of authority. "This is a closed executive session. You do not belong here."
"As the majority shareholder, I dictate who belongs here," I replied, taking a seat directly opposite him at the far end of the long glass table.
"The transfer of shares is still pending!" he argued, looking at his own lawyers.
"The transfer was finalized at 8:00 AM this morning by the probate judge," Pendelton interrupted, placing a signed document on the table. "Mrs. Carter holds 51% of voting rights. This meeting is entirely legal."
Murmurs erupted among the board members.
"Let's get straight to business," I said, my voice echoing off the glass walls. I didn't recognize my own voice. It was calm. Lethal.
"For the past three years, Daniel Reed has presented you with manipulated data regarding the AI initiative. He has lied about user engagement, and worse, he has diverted thirty million dollars of R&D capital into offshore shell accounts for personal real estate purchases."
The room erupted.
"Lies!" Daniel screamed, standing up and pointing a shaking finger at me. "She's a bitter, hysterical ex-wife! She's making this up to ruin me!"
Pendelton opened his briefcase and passed thick folders down both sides of the table.
"Bank statements, wire transfers, and internal emails," Pendelton stated dryly. "All verified."
The board members opened the folders. The silence that followed was deafening as they read through the irrefutable proof of Daniel's crimes.
An older man, the chairman of the board, looked up at Daniel with pure disgust.
"Daniel... what have you done?"
"It's out of context!" Daniel pleaded, his voice cracking. "I was going to replace the funds! The tech is almost ready!"
"The tech is vaporware, Daniel," I said. "And you are finished."
I stood up, resting my hands on the glass table, leaning forward.
"I am proposing a motion," I announced to the room. "Immediate termination of Daniel Reed as CEO, effective this exact second, with cause. Stripping him of all severance, stock options, and golden parachutes."
"You can't do this!" Daniel yelled, tears of rage and humiliation spilling over his cheeks. "I am this company! You're nothing without me!"
"I second the motion," the chairman said quietly.
"All in favor?" I asked.
Every single hand in the room went up. Except Daniel's.
"Motion passed," I said.
I looked at the man who had tormented me, neglected me, and tried to discard me like trash.
He was broken. Defeated. Stripped of his armor, his wealth, and his power.
"Security will escort you out of the building, Mr. Reed," I said perfectly calmly. "Please leave your keycard on the table."
Daniel stared at me, his mouth opening and closing like a suffocating fish. He looked around the room, but no one met his eyes.
Slowly, with trembling hands, he took his keycard from his lanyard and dropped it onto the glass.
May you like
He turned and walked out of the boardroom, flanked by two security guards.
I watched the doors close behind him, exhaling a breath I felt like I had been holding for ten years.
