Michael's face turned from pale to a dark, angry red as he realized his public standing was collapsing in real time. He stepped directly up to Audrey, his voice dropping into a harsh, desperate whisper.
Michael: You think you've won, Audrey? You think you can just kick me out of Sterling Global without a fight?
Audrey: You have no fighting ground left, Michael.
Michael: Check the secondary corporate registry! My name is listed as a co-signatory on the European trust account!
Audrey: You mean the account you tried to transfer twenty million dollars out of last Tuesday?
Michael froze. His jaw dropped open slightly, his eyes widening in pure panic.
Michael: How... how do you know about that transfer?
Audrey: Did you really think my private forensic accountants wouldn't notice a twenty-million-dollar wire flag originating from a hotel IP address in Miami?
Harrison: The federal audit team was notified three hours ago, Mr. Vance. The destination account in the Cayman Islands has already been frozen by court order.
Michael: You... you reported me to the federal auditors?
Audrey: I reported a corporate thief who thought he could use a wedding ring to cover his embezzlement scheme.
The doors at the side of the ballroom opened, and Chloe walked out into the open space, wearing a trench coat over her clothes, her head bowed low as she tried to hurry toward the exit.
Audrey: Going somewhere, Chloe?
Chloe stopped in her tracks, her face flushing bright red as every camera in the room turned toward her.
Chloe: Audrey, please! Michael told me he was transferring that money to set up our new consulting firm!
Michael: Shut your mouth, Chloe!
Chloe: He promised me I would be the vice president of the new company if I helped him get the security passcodes from your desk!
Audrey: Thank you for confirming the conspiracy on my recorded microphone feed, Chloe.
The entire crowd broke into loud murmurs once again. Board members at the front table shook their heads, exchanging furious looks with one another.
Board Member Miller: Disgraceful. Absolute corporate treason.
Board Member Davis: We vote to back CEO Audrey Sterling's decision completely. Michael Vance is terminated from all corporate offices effective immediately.
Michael: Miller! Davis! You've worked with my father for twenty years!
Board Member Miller: Your father was an honest man, Michael. You are a common criminal who tried to bleed this company dry.
Michael backed away toward the edge of the stage, his hands trembling violently as he looked at his mother, who was sitting back down in her chair, covering her face in complete embarrassment.
Michael: Audrey... give me one chance to return the funds! I'll sign whatever release you want!
Audrey: You'll sign your statement for the federal prosecutors, Michael. That is the only document you'll be signing today.