Chapter 5 - The Fall of the ArchitectSarah Sterling stepped forward, projecting the complete, unredacted forensic audit onto the massive high-definition screens lining the boardroom walls.
The charts displayed the six offshore accounts in Liechtenstein, the fourteen million dollars in siphoned corporate capital, and the forged digital signatures bearing Julian's name.
"As senior fraud counsel representing fifty-one percent of the primary voting shares held under the Evelyn Carter-Vance Trust," Sarah announced cleanly, "we hereby move for the immediate removal of Daniel Vance as Chief Executive Officer of Vance Shipping."
The fifteen board members turned their heads simultaneously to glare at Daniel with pure, unadulterated fury.
"You bastard!" Senior Board Member Harrison roared, slamming his fist onto the table. "You stole fourteen million dollars from our reserve funds?!"
"No! Wait! Listen to me!" Daniel shrieked, backing away toward the glass windows, his hands shaking frantically as he looked at his attorney. "Richard! Do something! Tell them this is a conflict of interest!"
Richard Sterling slowly closed his leather briefcase, stepped two paces away from Daniel, and bowed his head. "I am resigning as corporate counsel for Daniel Vance, effective immediately. I advise my client to seek independent legal representation."
Daniel froze. The air left his lungs completely.
I rolled my wheelchair to the head of the table, looking up into his pale, ruined face with absolute, unshakeable clarity.
"Your mother's bail has just been revoked by the State Prosecutor, Daniel," I revealed deadpan, holding up my tablet screen displaying the fresh arrest warrant. "The grand jury just returned a five-count indictment for Attempted Premeditated Murder, Corporate Wire Fraud, and Forgery against you both."
Two uniformed Federal Marshals stepped into the boardroom through the open double doors.
CLICK. CLICK.
The heavy steel handcuffs locked around Daniel's wrists with an iron snap.
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"EVELYN! PLEASE!" Daniel wept hysterically, his arrogant filter completely shattered into pathetic, groveling fragments as he was dragged flat across the carpet toward the elevator. "I WAS WRONG! I LOVE YOU! DON'T DO THIS TO ME!"
I didn't turn my head to watch him leave.
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