Three days later, the high-rise corporate headquarters of Vance Logistics in downtown Dallas was filled with tension[cite: 1]. The eleven members of the board of directors sat around a massive dark oak conference table, whispering nervously among themselves[cite: 1]. News of Carter's arrest had leaked to every major news network in Texas, sending the company's stock value plummeting by fifteen percent in forty-eight hours[cite: 1].
At the head of the table sat Richard Vance, Carter's uncle and the chief executive officer, slamming his pen onto the table in frustration[cite: 1].
Richard: This is an absolute disaster! The press is calling us a haven for domestic abusers! Our investors are pulling out of the ten-billion-dollar logistics merger!
Board Member 1: Carter is in county jail with bail set at five million dollars. Who is going to sign the merger papers today?
Richard: I will sign them as acting chairman! We need to stabilize the stock immediately before market close!
Suddenly, the heavy glass doors of the boardroom swung open. Marcus walked in wearing a sharp navy suit, holding open the door for Clara, who walked beside him in a simple, elegant dark dress that showed her pregnant bump[cite: 1]. She held her head high, carrying a thick leather briefcase in her right hand[cite: 1].
Richard: What is the meaning of this, Marcus?! This is a private board meeting! Clara has no clearance to be in this room!
Marcus: Clara has more clearance than anyone sitting at this table, Uncle Richard.
Richard: Don't be ridiculous! She's Carter's estranged wife! She has zero corporate voting rights!
Clara: I'm not here as Carter's wife, Mr. Vance. I'm here as the primary shareholder of Vance Enterprises.
The entire boardroom fell dead silent as Clara set her briefcase on the oak table and popped open the silver latches[cite: 1]. She pulled out a stack of certified legal documents and slid them directly across the wood to Richard[cite: 1].
Richard: What are these? More divorce papers?
Marcus: Read section two, Richard. Those are the original land deeds and foundational partnership contracts signed by grandfather and Clara's grandmother in 1988.
Richard put on his reading glasses, his hands beginning to shake as he flipped through the stamped pages[cite: 1]. His face turned paler with every line he read[cite: 1].
Richard: This... this can't be valid... these assets were integrated into the corporate umbrella thirty years ago!
Clara: They were integrated illegally without my grandmother's consent, Mr. Vance. My legal team filed a formal restitution claim with the Texas Supreme Court two hours ago.
Board Member 2: Is this true, Richard?! Does she actually own the primary land deeds for our main shipping hubs?
Richard: It's... it's a legal technicality! We can fight this in court for years!
Marcus: You won't be fighting anything, Richard. Because if you try to fight Clara, she will immediately revoke Vance Logistics' access to every port, warehouse, and land hub in North Texas.
Richard: You would destroy the company?!
Clara: I don't want to destroy the company, Uncle Richard. I want to clean it up. Starting with removing everyone who turned a blind eye to Carter's crimes.