Chapter 4
Right on cue, the boardroom doors burst open. Victoria Vance walked in, her face a mask of professional poise that quickly fractured into rage when she saw Sarah sitting at the table.
"Mr. Vale!" Victoria said, quickly recovering her composure. "I apologize for the intrusion. I see my junior assistant has overstepped her bounds and bothered you with incomplete files. Sarah, leave the room immediately. I will take over from here."
Daniel didn't move. He didn't even look at Victoria. He kept his eyes on Sarah.
"Sarah," Daniel said smoothly, "does the file you are holding contain the fully audited report on the Section 14.4 fraud?"
"Yes, Mr. Vale," Sarah replied clearly, looking Victoria dead in the eye.
Victoria went entirely rigid. "Fraud? What are you talking about? Mr. Vale, this girl is incompetent! She’s trying to sabotage my department because of a personal vendetta!"
Daniel finally turned his gaze to Victoria. It was like watching a predator lock onto its prey. "Victoria Vance, you are stripped of your title, suspended without pay effective immediately, and pending a full criminal investigation by the SEC. Security is already waiting outside to escort you from the building and seize your corporate devices."
Victoria staggered back, her face draining of all color. "You can't do this! The Bennett merger—"
"The Bennett merger will proceed," Daniel interrupted coldly. "But under the supervision of our new Acting General Counsel." He looked back at Sarah, a rare, genuine smile gracing his lips. "Sarah, congratulations on your promotion. Now, if you please, help me prepare the clean contracts for Mr. Bennett's arrival at noon."
Two uniform security guards entered the room, firmly gripping Victoria’s arms and ignoring her screeching protests as they dragged her out.
Sarah sat in the sudden quiet of the boardroom, her mind spinning. In less than twenty-four hours, she had gone from a bullied legal assistant to the Acting General Counsel of a global conglomerate. She looked at Daniel, overwhelmed.
"Mr. Vale... I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll help me fix this, Sarah," Daniel said softly, reaching across the table to briefly touch her hand. The warmth of his skin sent a tremor of excitement through her. "The real battle begins tonight."
Part 5: The Confrontation at noon
At noon, the preliminary signing took place in the neutral territory of a private suite at the Plaza Hotel.
Michael Bennett arrived, his demeanor detached, carrying a heavy aura of suppressed fury. Ashley was by his side, practically vibrating with excitement, completely unaware that her sister had been fired and humiliated just three hours prior.
When Daniel entered the suite, accompanied by Sarah, Ashley’s eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of the young woman, but she quickly dismissed her as a mere secretary.
"Daniel!" Michael said, stepping forward to shake his friend's hand. The handshake was tight, a silent acknowledgement of the war they were jointly waging.
"Michael," Daniel nodded. "This is Sarah, our new Acting General Counsel. She will be overseeing the final contract execution."
Ashley frowned, stepping forward. "Acting General Counsel? Where is Victoria? My sister was supposed to handle this."
"Victoria Vance was terminated this morning for gross corporate misconduct and attempted embezzlement," Daniel said casually, sitting down at the conference table.
Ashley froze, her breath catching audibly. "Embezzlement? That's ridiculous! Victoria would never—"
"The SEC is currently reviewing the offshore routing numbers tied to 'A&V Holdings,' Ashley," Sarah chimed in, her voice calm, professional, and deadly accurate. "Perhaps you've heard of it? It’s registered under your name."
Ashley’s heart skipped a beat. She looked frantically at Michael, her eyes filling with instant, calculated tears. "Michael! Darling, look at what they're doing! They're trying to attack my family right before our big night! They're trying to ruin our wedding! Tell them to stop!"
Michael slowly turned his head to look at Ashley. His face was a mask of cold stone. For a moment, Ashley felt a chill of genuine terror. The look in his eyes wasn't the look of a protective fiancé. It was the look of a executioner.
But Michael forced a tight, artificial smile. "Don't worry, Ashley. We won't let anything ruin our big night. Daniel, let’s sign the core agreements. The final public execution of the contracts—and our celebrations—will happen tonight at the gala, just as planned."
Ashley swallowed hard, trying to soothe her raging panic. It's fine, she told herself. Victoria made a mistake, but they can't prove I knew about the corporate money. As long as Michael marries me tonight, I am legally protected by his wealth and immunity. I just have to make it through the gala.
Part 6: The Redemption and the Reckoning
The grand ballroom of the Metropolitan Museum of Art was bathed in dramatic hues of crimson and gold. Hundreds of the city’s elite—billionaires, politicians, celebrities, and high-profile journalists—mingled under the massive exhibits. Cameras flashed incessantly.
