Chapter 7 - Shadows in the Boardroom
Three days later, on the top floor of Vance Tower downtown, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to the quiet tension of the penthouse nursery.
The glass-walled executive boardroom was packed with senior board members, legal counsels, and financial analysts whispering nervously among themselves. The scandal had broken late last night—not through tabloid gossip, but through an official corporate press release issued directly by Julian Vance’s office, detailing Victoria’s arrest for attempted premeditated murder and financial fraud.
Julian sat at the head of the long mahogany table. Dressed in a flawless charcoal suit, his expression was carved from granite. He didn't look like a man recovering from a near-tragedy; he looked like a general returning to war.
"Mr. Vance," nervously spoke Arthur Pendelton, the senior managing director and longtime ally of the Vance family, adjusting his glasses. "The media fallout has been significant, but our PR team has managed to frame the narrative around your swift, decisive action. However... the board is concerned about the restructuring of the junior trust fund."
Julian raised a single hand, cutting off the murmur in the room instantly.
"Let me make my position crystal clear to everyone in this room," Julian said, his voice deep, resonant, and freezing cold. "My son, Leo Vance, is the sole and undisputed heir to this corporation. Any individual, associate, or board member who ever attempts to question, manipulate, or undermine my family’s security will be dealt with with the exact same finality you saw played out on the news this week."
Arthur swallowed hard and nodded quickly. "Understood, sir. Completely understood."
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"Furthermore," Julian continued, standing up and buttoning his jacket, "effective immediately, Clara Vance—yes, my head nanny—has been appointed as a permanent trustee advisor to the board regarding family welfare allocations. If anyone has an issue with that, you may submit your resignation to my desk by five o'clock."
Not a single person in the room dared to speak. The silence was absolute submission. Julian turned his back on the board, walking over to the floor-to-ceiling windows to look out over the sprawling city skyline below. The sun was shining brightly, casting a golden glow over the glass towers—a new dawn for the Vance empire, cleansed of its darkest parasite.
