Chapter 9: The Boardroom Storm**
The next day, the boardroom on the top floor of Sterling Enterprises was an arena of unrest. Arthur stood at the head of the conference table, with Julian sitting quietly beside him.
"You want to do what?" demanded Richard Vance, the company’s chief legal counsel and a lifelong ally of their father. "Arthur, that Northside property is appraised at forty million dollars. Donating it to build a non-profit public health center is fiduciary suicide!"
"The land was acquired through fraudulent means, Richard," Arthur said calmly, sliding copies of the 1999 records across the table. "Our father falsified safety violations against Dr. Green to acquire it."
Vance glanced at the papers, his face turning pale before quickly recovering its scowl. "Those are ancient allegations. The statute of limitations has passed. Nobody can force us to do this!"
"I'm not doing it because the law forces me," Arthur replied, looking at each board member in turn. "I'm doing it because it is the only way this company retains its soul."
Julian stood up, adjusting his suit jacket. "I hold thirty percent of the voting shares in the family trust. I vote with Arthur. If anyone here wants to sue us for doing what is fundamentally moral, prepare for every piece of this evidence to become public record in court."
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The room fell dead silent. Vance looked around, realizing he was outmatched.
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