Chapter 7 - The Boardroom Ambush
Friday arrived with the weight of an executioner's axe.
The emergency board meeting of Mercer Industries
was called for nine in the morning.
The grand mahogany boardroom
was packed with senior executives,
investors,
and legal counsel.
I walked in,
dressed in a sharp black blazer,
my posture straight,
my gaze unyielding.
Elliot Hayes walked right beside me.
Carrying a fresh leather folder.
We took our seats at the head of the table.
The seat Claire used to occupy.
The chief financial officer cleared his throat.
As the majority voting proxy of the estate,
Margaret Mercer now holds fifty-one percent
of all voting shares,
he announced formally.
The room murmured.
Investors who had secretly backed Daniel
now sat in terrified silence.
The double doors swung open.
Daniel burst into the room.
Looking disheveled,
unshaven,
and frantic.
You can't do this meeting without me!
he shouted,
slamming his hands onto the table.
I am the CEO!
Not anymore,
I said softly.
I raised my hand,
signaling Elliot.
Elliot opened the folder.
Extracting a signed board resolution.
Effective immediately,
Daniel Mercer is terminated
from all positions within this company
for gross misconduct,
financial fraud,
and breach of fiduciary duty.
Daniel stared at us in disbelief.
You're cutting your own family throats!
he screamed.
You're destroying the company Claire built!
No, Daniel,
I answered,
standing up to look him dead in the eye.
Claire built this company.
You were just a parasite feeding on it.
And today,
the parasite is being removed.
Security guards stepped behind him,
grabbing his arms and dragging him out of the boardroom
while he cursed and kicked.
The board unanimously voted in favor
of the new restructuring plan.
May you like
Mercer Industries was safe.
And Daniel was officially erased.
