Chapter 13 - The Collapse of the Vance Alliance
The color completely drained from Victoria Vance’s face, leaving her features looking as though they had been carved from cold, lifeless marble.
For the first time since she had walked into the boardroom, the untouchable queen of corporate raiding looked utterly vulnerable, her carefully constructed armor cracking down the middle.
"This... this isn't over," Victoria stammered, her voice losing its smooth, venomous edge as panic threatened to overwhelm her self-control.
"The SEC investigation is still active. The media has the land fraud story. Your husband is a criminal hiding in his own mansion. You haven't won anything, Julian!"
"Arthur is no longer my problem, and certainly not the head of this family," Julian replied coldly, standing tall and unyielding at the head of the table.
He turned his gaze toward Chairman Harrison, who was already reviewing the federal charter validation on his tablet with wide, astonished eyes.
"Harrison, notify federal investigators that all documents submitted by Vance Enterprise are fraudulent, and initiate a full SEC probe into market manipulation against Victoria Vance."
Harrison nodded eagerly, instantly picking up his desk phone.
"Right away, Mr. Sterling."
"No! You can't do this!" Victoria shrieked, losing her composure entirely as she lunged forward, slamming her manicured hands onto the mahogany table.
"I will destroy you, Julian! I will strip every cent you have left and leave you begging in the streets!"
"You had your chance, Victoria," Julian replied, his voice devoid of any emotion whatsoever.
He motioned toward the corporate security guards standing near the glass doors.
"Escort Ms. Vance and her counsel off the premises. And make sure they understand that any further attempts to contact Sterling personnel will be met with immediate criminal trespassing charges."
The two burly security guards stepped forward, grabbing Marcus by the arm and firmly gesturing toward the exit for Victoria.
"Get your hands off me!" Victoria snarled, shoving the guard back with venomous fury before turning one last look of pure, unadulterated hatred toward Julian and Evelyn.
"This war isn't over, Julian. You haven't seen the last of me."
With that parting threat, Victoria spun on her heel, storming out of the boardroom with Marcus trailing closely behind her, the heavy glass doors sliding shut behind them with a definitive, chilling click.
The silence that blanketed the boardroom this time was not one of tension, but of profound relief.
Chairman Harrison let out a long, shaky breath, sinking back into his leather chair and wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead.
"Good grief," Harrison muttered, looking at Julian with newfound respect.
"That was the most breathtaking corporate maneuver I have witnessed in forty years of banking."
Julian didn't smile; his expression remained grim and focused.
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"The corporate battle is won, Harrison, but the war inside this house is far from over," Julian said quietly, turning his gaze toward Evelyn.
"We need to go back to the estate. Arthur is still there."
