Chapter 11 - The Emergency Shareholder Summit
The grand auditorium was packed with over five hundred board members, international investors, and economic journalists. Whispers rippled across the vast room as Evelyn and Julian took their seats in the front row of the executive box.
At precisely 9:00 AM, the lights in the auditorium dimmed.
The heavy mahogany side doors opened, and I walked onto the stage.
I wore a dark charcoal three-piece suit, my expression completely impassive as I approached the central podium. The room fell into an immediate, expectant silence.
I tapped the microphone once.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the board, honored shareholders, and members of the press,” I began, my voice projecting with absolute authority through the state-of-the-art acoustic sound system. “I have called this emergency assembly to address a matter of fundamental corporate integrity, historic justice, and criminal conspiracy operating at the highest levels of Moretti Group.”
Before I could continue, Evelyn Vance stood up from her seat in the front row, holding up a certified legal proxy petition.
“Point of order, Mr. Chairman!” Evelyn projected, her aristocratic voice ringing through the hall. “As the representative of thirty-eight percent of the voting shares of this conglomerate, I move for an immediate suspension of the agenda! Under Section 14-B of the corporate charter, I formally introduce a motion of No Confidence against Dominic Moretti for gross negligence, unauthorized financial diversion, and executive abuse of power!”
A roar of shock and chatter erupted across the auditorium. Reporters began frantically typing on their laptops as camera flashes lit up the stage.
Julian stood up beside his mother, smiling smugly toward the media gallery.
I stood behind the podium, completely unfazed. I didn't raise my voice. I didn't call for order. I simply looked down at Evelyn with a look of calm, unyielding pity.
“Your motion is noted, Mrs. Vance,” I said smoothly. “However, under the foundational corporate charter established by my late father, Anthony Moretti, in 1985, an executive motion of No Confidence requires the consent of a sixty percent supermajority of all authenticated voting shares.”
“We hold thirty-eight percent!” Evelyn declared triumphantly. “And with the unallocated twenty-five percent St. Jude shares currently held in corporate escrow, our block represents an absolute governing majority of active shares!”
“That would be true, Evelyn,” I replied, stepping to the side of the podium and gesturing toward the backstage entrance. “If the St. Jude Heritage Trust were unallocated.”
The heavy oak doors behind the stage swung open.
A hush fell over the entire five-hundred-person auditorium so profound you could hear the hum of the overhead projectors.
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Walking onto the stage, holding the leather St. Jude portfolio in one hand, was Emily Carter.
Beside her, holding her other hand and wearing a brand-new pink dress with her yellow rain boots proudly on the correct feet, was six-year-old Lily.
