Chapter 17
Chapter 17: The Slaughter
"Let us address the first item on the agenda," Charlotte announced, her voice chillingly calm. "The proposed merger with Sterling Corp."
The lead Sterling executive, a slick man named Vance, forced a smile. "Ms. Vale, we understand tensions are high. But our offer is exceptionally generous given the resort's recent... financial difficulties."
Charlotte nodded to David Lin, who stood by the door. David walked around the table, placing a thick, red-tabbed dossier in front of every single board member.
"Open them," Charlotte commanded.
The room filled with the sound of rustling paper. Within seconds, the blood drained from the faces of the board members.
"What you are looking at is proof of a coordinated financial sabotage," Charlotte explained, her gaze panning across the room. "Graham Vale intentionally tanked our vendor contracts and diverted funds to offshore shell companies to create a manufactured crisis. On page twelve, you will find encrypted emails between Graham and Mr. Vance here, detailing a thirty percent kickback to Graham upon the successful sale of Solmere."
Vance turned the color of ash. "This—this is fabricated! It’s corporate espionage!"
"It’s a federal crime," Charlotte corrected, her voice dripping with venom. "And I have already forwarded the unredacted files to the SEC and the FBI."
She leaned forward, bracing her hands on the table.
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"The merger is dead," she stated, looking directly into Vance's panicked eyes. "Sterling Corp is hereby banned from stepping foot on any Solmere property worldwide. If you are not out of this building in three minutes, I will have you arrested for trespassing."
Vance and his partner scrambled to gather their briefcases, practically running out of the boardroom in absolute disgrace.
