Chapter 7 - THE BOARDROOM TAKEOVER
Three days later, the glass-walled executive boardroom on the fiftieth floor of Moretti Headquarters hummed with nervous energy.
The twelve senior board members—including the visiting European syndicate representatives—sat around the massive black marble conference table in absolute silence.
The empty seat at the head of the table where Camilla Croft had planned to sit as future matriarch had been removed entirely.
Victor Moretti entered the room precisely at nine o'clock, wearing a charcoal three-piece suit, his dark hair neatly combed, his expression as cold and unreadable as a marble monument.
Behind him walked Nora Vance.
She wore a sharp, tailored navy-blue pantsuit with a crisp white silk blouse, her dark brown hair braided into an immaculate crown, carrying a sleek leather portfolio under her arm.
Several board members whispered among themselves, glancing sideways at Nora.
Victor pulled out the central chair at the head of the table, sat down, and rested his hands flat on the marble surface.
"Before we review the European expansion portfolio," Victor began, his deep voice carrying effortlessly across the spacious room, "we need to address a structural change in executive leadership."
He turned his head toward Nora, who stood calmly to his right.
"Effective immediately, Miss Nora Vance is appointed as Chief Operating Officer of Moretti Enterprises, with full executive signing authority across all domestic and international subsidiaries."
An audible gasp rippled through the board members.
Lord Sterling, the senior representative from the London syndicate, adjusted his glasses and leaned forward. "With all due respect, Mr. Moretti, Miss Vance has served as your executive secretary for two years. Elevating her directly to COO without board confirmation bypasses standard protocol."
Victor didn't raise his voice. He didn't blink.
He simply slid a thin manila folder across the marble table toward Lord Sterling.
"That folder contains the audit trail of Camilla Croft’s embezzlement and her secret communications with the Sinclair family," Victor said, his voice dropping into a razor-sharp register. "Miss Vance uncovered the breach, secured the encrypted backups, and protected our European shipping lanes from federal seizure. If any member of this board questions her qualifications, they are free to resign before noon and test their luck managing investments on the open market."
Lord Sterling opened the folder, scanned the first page, and immediately swallowed hard. He closed the cover with a soft click.
"Congratulations, Miss Vance," Lord Sterling said stiffly, nodding in Nora’s direction. "A most... well-deserved promotion."
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Nora met his gaze steadily. "Thank you, Lord Sterling. Let's ensure our future operations reflect that level of vigilance."
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