Chapter 6 - THE BOARDROOM SHOWDOWN
At 1:55 PM, Ryan rushed into the glass-walled boardroom of Bennett Development Corporation on the 40th floor of Manhattan’s financial district.
His hair was unkempt, his tie slightly crooked—a sharp contrast to his usual flawless appearance. Standing around the mahogany table were the board members, men who had known his late father for decades.
At the head of the table sat Arthur Vance, the company’s largest institutional investor and a long-time family friend.
"Ryan," Arthur said, his voice grave. "Sit down."
Ryan cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Arthur, look, whatever rumor you’ve heard today, I can explain. My wife is currently going through a severe emotional episode due to her pregnancy, and she’s trying to sabotage—"
"Shut up, Ryan," Arthur interrupted coldly.
Arthur pushed a laptop toward the center of the table and pressed play on an audio file.
“Claire, I think we should finally stop pretending everything is normal... Vanessa and I are together, and the guest suite is empty, so she will be staying here for the foreseeable future...”
Ryan froze. The color drained from his face as his own voice echoed through the boardroom speakers, followed by Vanessa’s arrogant laughter and his mother’s quiet approval.
"Where... where did you get that?" Ryan stammered.
"Your wife’s legal team sent it to every board member at noon today," Arthur said, standing up. "Along with a forensic financial report showing that you transferred $9.4 million of corporate development capital into an offshore entity controlled by Vanessa Cole’s shell company."
"That was... that was for an offshore property investment!" Ryan lied desperately.
"Don't lie to us!" another board member shouted. "The court froze those accounts this morning under suspicion of federal fraud! The bank has already notified federal regulators!"
Arthur walked over to Ryan, looking down at him with utter disgust.
"Your father built this company on integrity, Ryan. You brought your mistress into your home in front of your pregnant wife and children, and then you stole from this company to buy her loyalty."
Arthur slid a document across the table.
"Effective immediately, the board has voted to suspend you from your position as Chief Executive Officer. Your access to company systems, vehicles, and expense accounts is revoked."
"You can't do this!" Ryan yelled, his voice cracking. "I am the face of this company!"
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"Not anymore," Arthur replied coldly. "Security will escort you out of the building."
Two heavy-set security guards stepped into the room. As Ryan was forcibly escorted out of the tower he spent nine years ruling, he realized his empire hadn't just crumbled—it had been completely dismantled in less than eighteen hours.
