93

The sky was slate-gray when Liana Coleman and Alex Cole arrived at the Sterling Tower boardroom, its glass face reflecting off the oncoming storm. Inside, the conference table glowed under harsh fluorescents, the seated directors grumbling in clipped tones. At the head of the table, Malachi Voss's own handpicked proxy, Helena Pritchard—lips pressed into a well-practiced smile—sat on either side of five mutinous board members with hard faces that said more about ambition than concern. Ruth and Leo sat opposite them, face set, by their lawyers. The room vibrated with tension.

Ruth looked at Leo, her face begging him to keep calm. He nodded once, shoulders tense. The chairman banged the gavel. "Today's emergency session is in response to charges of mismanagement and fraud at Hartmann Enterprises," she read. Helena rose, her posture upright, charisma masked by politeness. "New evidence has surfaced concerning Mr. Hartmann in the misuse of improper accounting practices. We recommend a vote in immediate session to remove Mr. Hartmann as CEO and to accept Ms. Coleman's resignation as chairwoman, effective at once."

A chill of astonishment ran along the room. Leo turned pale; Ruth's jaw dropped open in shock. Their lawyer jumped up, ready to object, but Helena signaled for him to wait. "--and to implement an interim management committee until a full forensic audit is conducted."

Silence hung heavy. Liana's throat constricted. One thought burned through her: no. She entered the room, her heels clicking to silence the muttering. "This is a Malachi Voss coup," she declared, her voice as clean as chimes before a storm. "These votes are based on forged documents and forged signatures. I want proof.".

Heads turned. Helena's smile trembled. "Ms. Coleman, our documentary evidence is in the board's hands. If you wish to object to it, you may do so after the vote.".

Anger flared in Liana’s chest. She planted her tablet on the table, swiping to the front. “I have proof, right here.” She tapped the screen. “Emails showing Ms. Pritchard colluding with Voss’s operatives to forge invoices. Digital signatures traced to offshore IP addresses controlled by Malachi’s shell companies.” The room buzzed as the display illuminated: timestamped messages, transaction logs, and a recording of a clandestine phone call.

Ruth gasped. Leo's jaw snapped shut. Helena's mask broke; she blushed. A few board members shifted uncomfortably.

Before Helena could say a word, Alex stood up, booming voice. "I also have evidence." He pointed to his staff, and a second screen flickered to life: ledger entries of unexpected share transfers, phony minutes of earlier board meetings, and a payments ledger funneled through Voss's front. "These are corporate bylaw and securities law violations. I will be filing immediate injunctions against any vote on material that's been falsified."

The chairman slammed his gavel, trying to restore order. "Order! We will vote at once, subject to legal consideration—"

"No!" Liana exclaimed, standing with Alex. "You cannot legally hold a vote when evidence of tampering has been presented. Any resolution passed today would be null and void."

The room broke into pandemonium. Directors shouted over each other, some demanding adjournment, others calling for action now. Ruth placed a soothing hand on Leo's arm. "We need a recess," she said, voice firm but steady. "Fifty-four minutes, to verify these documents.".

Murmurs of agreement rose. Helena’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Malachi’s proxy instructions—only to find her allies wavering. The chairman, brow furrowed, declared a thirty-minute recess. The boardroom emptied except for the Coleman-Hartmann corner and Alex’s legal team; tension coiled in the silence.

Outside in the corridor, Liana exhaled in relief. She turned to Alex. “I didn’t think we’d break their quorum.” Her voice trembled. “Thank you.”

He brushed a strand of hair off her cheek. "You were amazing. We couldn't let them murder your family." His fingers lingered on her cheek, warmth filling the ruin. She leaned into the contact, heart racing as thunder rumbled in the distance.

Inside, Helen Pritchard conferred in hushed tones with the dissenting directors. Malachi’s plan teetered as legal counsel for ColeTech delivered threats of SEC complaints and RICO investigations should they proceed with fraudulent minutes. Fear and anger warred on the board’s faces.

The recess ended. The board reconvened, votes tallied—and without Helena’s certainty, the motion to remove Leo and Ruth was defeated by a narrow margin. Applause erupted from Leo’s side, while Malachi’s supporters seethed.

Ruth stood, her voice shaking but steady. "The board has made its decision: there will be no removal." She met Leo's eyes, her own filled with unshed tears. He had a properly trembling smile. Relief and exhaustion battled on his face. Liana's heart relaxed as the threat receded—only to tighten at Ruth's pale illness.

As soon as the meeting had recessed, the directors poured out in awkward silence. Liana walked over to Ruth and Leo. Ruth's eyes filled up; she blinked the tears away. "I don't know how you discovered that evidence," she said, voice choking. "Thank you."

Leo took hold of Liana's hand. "I'm sorry you had to fight so hard." His eyes brimmed with gratitude and regret. "I failed you, your mother…lost nearly everything today.".

Liana clamped his hand tighter in hers. "We won't lose anything. Not if we stick together."

Alex stepped out, nodding curtly to Leo. He turned to Liana, sweeping his thumb back and forth across her knuckles. "We did it," he breathed.

She smiled weakly. "Yes. But at what expense?" She stared at her father, whose expression had grown ominous once again. The expense was etched upon the lines on his face.

That evening, the tempest erupted in earnest, rain drumming the windows of the mansion. Leo sat by the fire—now out—in the drawing room, head in hands. Ruth sat on the arm of his chair, silent tears etching their paths down her cheeks. Liana and Alex loomed over him, shoulders slumped.

Ruth looked up. "I can't do this any longer," she whispered. "I thought I could weather anything, but…what is left when every vow is broken?"

Leo closed his eyes. "I love you," he whispered, voice hoarse. "I'll spend the rest of my life proving myself."

Ruth shook her head, tears falling. "I need space. I need time." She rose, gliding from the room. Liana grasped Alex's arm as Ruth glided by. "She's gone," she whispered, her voice filled with desolation.

Alex wrapped an arm over her shoulders. "She'll come back," he whispered, though his eyes spoke otherwise.

Liana rested her head on his chest. "I just—" Her voice trembled. "I'm so tired."

He kissed the top of her head. "We all are." He rose to his feet, holding her hand in his. "But we have each other."

She looked up at him, finding strength in his unflinching eyes. "We'll protect them," she vowed. "No matter what."

Alex nodded, resolve etched on his face. "At any cost."

The night grew darker as the storm raged. In the blackness beyond the library window, a single figure stood alone: Malachi Voss, his shape outlined against the bursts of lightning. A shiver grew on his lips as thunder roared.

He raised a glass to the storm. "Well played," he murmured. "Let the real war begin.".