Chapter 7 - THE BOARDROOM SMILE
Sterling International’s emergency board meeting began at nine the following morning.
Dominic appeared through a secure connection from county detention.
His attorney sat beside him.
Brooke’s arrest had not yet become public.
The board believed I had returned early because of a family disagreement.
They expected Dominic to remain chief executive.
I entered carrying no presentation.
Only Evelyn and two forensic accountants followed me.
Dominic smiled when he saw me.
“You are emotionally compromised.”
I took my seat at the head of the table.
“You chained our son inside a basement.”
“That allegation has not been proven.”
“You opened a life insurance policy on him.”
“Responsible parents purchase insurance.”
“You planned his death before I returned.”
His attorney objected.
“This is not a criminal hearing.”
“No.”
I looked around the table.
“It is a shareholder meeting.”
I placed the ownership records on the screen.
The Singapore expansion had been formed through Sterling Global Holdings.
Every international contract, patent license, and distribution right had been assigned to that entity.
I owned seventy-two percent.
Dominic’s American shares represented less than ten percent of the complete company.
Several directors began whispering.
Dominic leaned toward the camera.
“You did that without board approval.”
“I did it with the approval you signed.”
His face changed.
He had signed hundreds of pages without reading them.
He trusted that I would continue protecting him from his own carelessness.
“Effective immediately,” I said, “Dominic Sterling is removed as chief executive.”
The vote passed.
Eight to one.
Dominic cast the only opposing vote.
I continued.
“Every executive who approved undocumented transfers will be suspended.”
“Every account connected to Brooke Kane, Victoria Sterling, or Liam’s shell company is frozen.”
“Our employee-protection fund will cover salaries during the investigation.”
“And twenty million dollars from my personal dividend account will establish a child-safety foundation.”
One director cleared his throat.
“Clara, the public scandal could destroy the merger.”
“The merger can wait.”
“Our reputation cannot.”
Dominic laughed bitterly.
“You always cared more about the company than family.”
I looked directly at the camera.
“No.”
“I cared about both.”
“You learned to use one as permission to betray the other.”
Evelyn played a short section of Maria’s recording.
Dominic’s voice filled the room.
You stay where you belong.
No one moved.
The director beside me removed his glasses.
Another looked away.
Dominic stopped smiling.
I leaned forward.
“You thought I would cry when I came home.”
“You thought grief would make me weak.”
“My smile frightened you because you finally realized I had stopped asking your permission to act.”
The secure feed disconnected.
May you like
Dominic’s attorney had ended the call.
But the removal order had already passed.
