Chapter 5 - Family BusinessJonathan Vance strode into my office like he owned the building, a sharp grin on his face. He was dressed in a bespoke Savile Row suit that made Michael’s designer rags look like department store clearance items.
"Little Emily," Jonathan laughed, leaning over my desk to give me a quick, European-style kiss on both cheeks. "Or should I say, Madam Chairwoman? Word of your hostile takeover reached London before the morning markets even opened. The board over there hasn't stopped buzzing. You completely blindsided Harrington."
"I simply cleaned house," I replied, motioning for him to take a seat across from me. "Victoria was running this company like a personal fiefdom, and her little protégé was bleeding our operational accounts dry."
Jonathan chuckled, crossing his legs. "Ah, yes. Michael Vance—no relation, thankfully. I heard about his little exit strategy. Promoted to Head of European Operations in London, complete with a million-dollar relocation package and a luxury flat in Mayfair. Tragic how quickly a man's dreams can turn into dust when he forgets who funds his lifestyle."
"You knew about his London transfer?" I asked, narrowing my eyes slightly.
Jonathan waved a dismissive hand. "Of course I did. Victoria sent the preliminary staffing request to my desk three weeks ago for rubber-stamping. She thought she was building an empire; she didn't realize she was walking right into the trap you and your father set." He leaned forward, his expression turning sharp and analytical. "Which brings me to why I flew in on the red-eye last night. With Victoria ousted and the executive board in shambles, Harrington & Cole needs a permanent CEO to oversee the global restructuring. The board in London wants to know if you're planning to run it yourself from the Chairman's seat, or if you need someone with international market experience to take the reins."
I looked at my cousin, studying the cool, calculating ambition in his eyes. Jonathan was family, but in the Vance dynasty, family loyalty was always backed by iron-clad contracts and mutual self-interest.
"I don't intend to stay in this office forever, Jonathan," I said slowly. "Harrington & Cole is a strategic asset for our tech portfolio, but my real focus is expanding the Vance Global Trust into green energy and quantum encryption infrastructure across North America."
"So... the CEO position is open?" Jonathan asked, a flicker of genuine excitement crossing his face.
"Not quite," I replied, standing up and walking over to the window. "I want to stabilize the company first. I want every single executive who enabled Victoria's embezzlement schemes rooted out and fired. And I want a complete forensic audit of every subsidiary contract signed in the last five years."
Jonathan stood up and walked over beside me, looking out at the Manhattan skyline. "You want to rebuild it from the ashes up. Smart. Clean slate. No old guard left to plot a counter-coup."
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"Exactly," I said, turning to face him. "And once the foundation is solid, we'll talk about who sits in the CEO chair. Until then, you'll act as my special advisor for European integration, starting Monday morning."
Jonathan smiled, holding out his hand. "Deal, Madam Chairwoman. It’s good to be on your side of the table."
