Chapter 9 - THE COMPANY BEGINS TO FALLDamian moved quickly.
At nine o’clock the following morning, he called an emergency board meeting.
He announced that Nathan’s personal scandal had damaged the company’s reputation.
Several investors had threatened to withdraw.
A temporary change in leadership was necessary.
Nathan entered the boardroom expecting to defend himself.
Instead, he discovered that Damian already controlled enough votes to suspend him.
The trust’s twelve percent had changed the balance.
Vanessa sat at the far end of the table as legal guardian of the supposed unborn shareholder.
She wore a white dress and held one hand beneath her stomach.
The image was designed for the photographers waiting outside.
Damian called for a vote.
Ethan entered before the directors could respond.
Melissa and Caroline followed him.
Melissa placed the court injunction on the table.
“The transfer is being challenged as fraudulent,” she said.
Damian barely looked at it.
“The transfer has already been completed.”
“A completed fraud is still fraud.”
Vanessa rose.
“This is harassment.”
Caroline looked at her.
“No.”
Her voice was calm.
“This is the first time you’ve been required to answer a question.”
Vanessa’s face tightened.
Nathan stared at Caroline as though he had not expected to see her again.
She did not look at him.
Melissa connected a laptop to the boardroom screen.
The costume-shop footage appeared.
Vanessa was shown testing the pregnancy prosthetic.
The room fell silent.
Nathan gripped the edge of the table.
Damian stood.
“This video has been manipulated.”
“The original was provided under court order,” Melissa replied.
Vanessa pointed at the screen.
“That was for a commercial campaign.”
Ethan placed the small pin beside the legal documents.
“Then you won’t object to an independent medical examination.”
Vanessa’s eyes moved toward Damian.
It was only a fraction of a second.
But everyone saw it.
Nathan stood slowly.
“Take the test.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“You’re humiliating me.”
“Take the test.”
“I will not allow your family to treat me like a criminal.”
Nathan stepped closer.
“You asked me to sacrifice my marriage.”
His voice trembled.
“You asked me to sign away part of my company.”
“You told the world you were carrying my child.”
He pointed toward the screen.
“Take the test.”
Vanessa’s tears vanished.
Her expression became hard.
“No.”
That single word changed everything.
Several directors began whispering.
Damian called for security.
Before the guards arrived, the fire alarm suddenly rang.
The boardroom doors unlocked automatically.
Smoke rolled beneath the hallway entrance.
May you like
Someone had started a fire in the records room.
And the original trust documents were stored inside.
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