Inside the Sterling Corporation headquarters, Julian stood at the head of the glass boardroom table, admiring his new platinum wristwatch under the bright LED panels.
Julian: Mother, the board will vote unanimously to confirm me as chief executive by noon. The proxy votes are locked.
Victoria: As they should be, darling. We built this empire. Now that you are free of that penniless girl, Evelyn’s father has agreed to merge his logistics firm with ours.
Evelyn: Daddy already signed the preliminary term sheet, Julian. He just wants to ensure the estate property on Oak Ridge is free of any messy divorce litigation.
Julian: There is no litigation. Clara signed an airtight prenuptial agreement before our wedding. She walked away without a single dime or a square foot of real estate.
The heavy boardroom double doors swung open without a knock, startling the senior board members seated around the mahogany table.
Victoria: Who authorized you to barge into an executive session? Security!
Arthur Vance stepped inside, carrying a dark leather briefcase, followed closely by Clara dressed in a crisp charcoal suit.
Julian: Clara? What is this circus? I warned you about trespassing on company property.
Clara: This isn't trespassing, Julian. I believe I have every right to sit at the head of this table.
Victoria: You pathetic little gold-digger! Did you really think hiring this retired, washed-up lawyer would scare us? Julian’s prenup was drafted by the best firm in the state!
Arthur Vance: Save your vocal cords, Victoria. You will need them when you explain your recent wire transfers to the federal bankruptcy trustee.
Julian slammed both palms down against the polished wood table.
Julian: Vance, get her out of my boardroom before I have the police drag her down the service elevator in handcuffs!
Arthur Vance: It is not your boardroom, Julian. In fact, you hold less than four percent of non-voting shares in this entire facility.
Julian: Are you out of your mind? My father was the primary shareholder! Upon his death, his shares automatically pass to me as his only legal son!
Arthur Vance: That would be true under the 2018 will, Julian. The one your mother kept in the safe behind the oil painting in the library.
Victoria's smug smile flickered, her face stiffening under her makeup.
Victoria: That was his final legal will, Vance! Duly witnessed and stamped!
Arthur Vance: It was his will until forty-eight hours before Henry was admitted to the intensive care unit. Clara, please hand the board members their copies.
Clara stepped forward, laying a neat stack of bound white folders directly in front of the chief financial officer.
Julian: Don't touch those papers! It’s a cheap forgery! She manipulated my sick father while he was delirious on medication!
Clara: Your father was completely lucid, Julian. He begged you to visit him on his birthday, and you told him you had a yacht party in Miami.
Arthur Vance: Henry underwent a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation by three independent board-certified physicians the morning this codicil was signed. The videotaped recording is currently logged in the county surrogate court records.
The chief financial officer adjusted his reading glasses, his jaw dropping as he turned the third page.
Chief Financial Officer: Julian... look at this stamp. This is verified by the state probate court.
Julian: What does it say, Marcus? Tell me what it says!
Chief Financial Officer: It says Henry revoked the previous family trust. Clara is named the sole trustee and principal owner of the entire estate portfolio.