The morning sun rose over the glass skyscraper of Vance Global Enterprises. Inside the main boardroom on the top floor, twelve executive board members sat around a long oak table, looking nervous as they flipped through financial reports.
At the head of the table sat Arthur Sterling, reviewing a thick stack of legal documents. Beside him was an empty leather chair reserved for the Chief Executive Officer.
Board Member Davis: Where is Julian? The market opens in twenty minutes! The news about his arrest is already breaking on financial channels!
Arthur: Julian won't be attending today's meeting, Davis. Or any meeting in the future.
Board Member Davis: The stock is going to plunge ten percent if we don't have a CEO sitting in that chair!
The frosted glass doors of the boardroom slid open. Maya stepped inside wearing a tailored charcoal suit. A neat white bandage covered her left temple, but her expression was relaxed and commanding.
Maya: Good morning, gentlemen.
Board Member Davis: Maya? What are you doing here? This is an executive board session.
Arthur: Maya is here because she owns fifty-six percent of the voting shares as of seven o'clock this morning.
Board Member Davis: Fifty-six percent?! How is that possible?!
Maya: Upon Julian's arrest for felony assault, his personal stock options were automatically surrendered under the ethics clause of the founder's charter. I acquired them through my private holding company.
She took her seat at the head of the table, pulling a tablet from her leather briefcase.
Maya: Effective immediately, Julian Vance has been removed from his position as Chief Executive Officer. I am stepping in as interim Managing Director.
Board Member Davis: This is unprecedented! The shareholders will panic!
Maya: The shareholders will celebrate when they realize the company isn't being bled dry by Julian's illegal offshore transfers anymore.
She tapped her tablet screen, projecting a series of bank ledgers onto the wall screen behind her.
Maya: Over the last eighteen months, Julian transferred twelve million dollars from our research division into a private shell company registered in Panama. My forensic accountants recovered those funds three hours ago.
The board members gasped, leaning in to look at the undeniable paper trail displayed on the wall.
Board Member Davis: Twelve million dollars...? He was stealing from the company?
Maya: He was stealing from everyone. Including his own family. But those days are over.
Arthur: All in favor of appointing Maya Sterling as Managing Director, raise your hand.
Every single hand around the table rose slowly into the air, including Board Member Davis's.
Maya: Motion carried. Now, let's get to work cleaning up this company.