Chapter 4 - The Boardroom Confrontation
On Monday morning, Harrison Holdings was scheduled to finalize a twenty-million-dollar municipal development contract with the city of Philadelphia. Michael walked into the executive boardroom on the forty-second floor, wearing a fresh suit, trying desperately to project his usual ironclad confidence.
Amber Collins was already seated at the side table, her tablet open, though her hands were visibly trembling as she typed.
"Is the city commissioner logged into the video link?" Michael asked, sitting at the head of the quartz table, refusing to acknowledge the panic tight in his chest.
"Yes, Michael," Amber whispered, her eyes darting nervously toward the heavy double doors. "But... there's an issue with the shareholder quorum."
Before Michael could ask what she meant, the doors swung open.
I walked into the boardroom. I wore a tailored cream-colored power suit, my hair pinned back into a sleek, professional bun. I looked pale, and my body was still recovering from giving birth four days ago, but my posture was completely unyielding. Behind me walked Marcus Vance and two forensic accounting specialists.
The entire board of directors stood up in shock.
"Catherine?" Michael stammered, his executive mask slipping entirely. "What are you doing here? You belong in the hospital. You're not in any condition to be moving around."
"I’m in perfect condition to handle my investments, Michael," I said, walking directly to the opposite end of the table. Marcus pulled out a chair for me, and I sat down, looking across the long expanse of quartz at my husband and his mistress.
"This is a private corporate meeting," Michael hissed, leaning forward. "You don't have a seat at this table."
"Actually, she holds the majority seat," Marcus Vance announced, opening a thick leather binder. "Eleven years ago, when Harrison Holdings was founded, ninety percent of the seed capital was provided by the Vance Family Foundation. The corporate charter states that Catherine Vance Harrison holds fifty-five percent of the primary voting stock. Michael, you are a minority shareholder and an employee of this board."
Amber looked as if she were going to faint. She looked at Michael, waiting for him to yell, to dominate the room the way he always did.
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But Michael was staring at the documents Marcus was sliding across the table. They weren't marriage certificates. They were corporate expense reports showing that Michael had used company capital to buy a luxury SUV for Amber and pay the lease on her private apartment.
"This board meeting is now in session," I said, looking at the city commissioner on the video screen. "And the first order of business is the immediate termination of Michael Harrison as CEO for gross financial misconduct."
