Chapter 13 - The Trap at the Summit
The grand auditorium on the top floor of the Vance Financial Tower was filled with hundreds of institutional investors and corporate reporters.
Large digital displays showed the real-time share price of Vance Financial Holdings climbing steadily toward record highs.
Victoria stood behind the lectern in a sharp, pearl-white double-breasted suit, her dark hair pulled back into a flawless, commanding chignon.
Beside her sat Marcus, his laptop connected directly to the primary stock transfer registry.
"As demonstrated by our third-quarter audit, our ocean freight operations have generated unprecedented operating margins," Victoria announced to the room.
"We now move to ratify the acquisition of the Pacific shipping routes by unanimous board assent."
Before Victoria could call for the vote, the tall double doors at the rear of the auditorium burst open with theatrical violence.
Helena Vance strode down the center carpeted aisle, flanked by four high-powered securities litigators and a private stenographer.
Helena wore a tailored crimson coat, her chin held high as flashbulbs instantly illuminated her arrival.
"Stop this fraudulent vote immediately!" Helena shouted, her voice echoing through the acoustics of the hall.
Reporters scrambled to point their cameras down the aisle as whispers swept through the rows of seated shareholders.
Victoria did not step back from the lectern; she did not even blink as her cousin approached the raised executive dais.
"Helena," Victoria said calmly into the microphone. "This is a closed shareholder assembly. Non-voting guests are not permitted."
"I am not a guest, Victoria," Helena sneered, pulling a certified document from her litigator’s portfolio.
"I am the designated proxy holder for Julian Cole, the rightful marital beneficiary of twenty-five percent of your equity block."
Helena slammed the signed document onto the edge of the dais in front of the board secretary.
"Under the original merger agreement, Julian’s consent was never lawfully extinguished by the bankruptcy court."
"We have filed an emergency petition with the state supreme court alleging spousal concealment and corporate fraud."
"Until this ownership dispute is adjudicated by a federal judge, your voting shares are legally paralyzed!"
A heavy, collective gasp resonated across the auditorium as institutional fund managers frantically grabbed their phones.
Helena smiled with triumphant arrogance, crossing her arms as she looked up at Victoria on the stage.
"Your reign is over, cousin."
"By the close of business today, Vance Financial will be placed under the emergency trusteeship of Apex Crest."
Victoria looked down at the document on the table, then slowly shifted her gaze toward Marcus.
"Marcus, did you receive the confirmation transmission from the federal monitor in Newark?" Victoria asked in a relaxed, conversational tone.
"Confirmed six minutes ago, Miss Hale," Marcus replied with a faint, knowing smirk.
May you like
Victoria looked back at Helena, her green eyes glittering with dangerous, untamed brilliance.
"You really should have checked Julian's parole conditions before you invited him into your town car yesterday, Helena."
