Chapter 4 - The CountdownI stepped into the quiet luxury of the private VIP holding room off the main lobby.
Standing inside was Thaddius Sterling—a six-foot-three former military intelligence director who served as the chief operating officer of my family's private estate and holdings. He was dressed in a flawless tailored charcoal suit, holding an encrypted tablet in his hand.
Behind him stood Arthur Pendelton, the sixty-two-year-old Chairman of the Board of Vance Global, alongside four senior corporate legal partners.
"Ma'am," Arthur said, bowing his head respectfully as I entered. "The emergency resolution was signed three minutes ago. We have already filed the immediate disclosure form with the SEC. Caldwell Vance’s credentials have been revoked across all corporate networks."
"Is the press release ready?" I asked, taking a warm damp towel from a server to wipe the dried wine from my fingers.
"Standing by for your final mark," Thaddius reported. "The private security teams are already at the Greenwich estate. His mother’s black cards have been declined, his corporate accounts are zeroed, and his personal credit lines—which were underwritten by your private fund—have been suspended."
I tossed the towel onto a tray and looked at my reflection in the gilded mirror. The quiet, submissive woman who had entered The Plaza an hour ago was completely gone. In her place was the sole heiress of the Montgomery-Astraea bloodline.
"He thinks I called an actor, Arthur," I said softly, a faint, cold smile touching my lips.
Arthur shook his head in utter disbelief. "Caldwell’s arrogance has blindfolded him for years, Saraphina. He genuinely believes he built Vance Global. He forgot who signed his initial charter."
"Then let's go remind him," I said, setting my bag down. "How much time has passed?"
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Thaddius glanced at his watch. "Twenty-seven minutes, ma'am."
"Perfect," I said, turning toward the heavy double doors. "Let's go back to the party."
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