Chapter 9
Arthur Pendelton straightened his tie, attempting to regain his lost composure under Eleanor’s unblinking gaze. "Ms. Vance," he said, forcing a tight, oily smile onto his face. "Let’s not be hasty. Litigation is expensive, time-consuming, and damaging to both our public profiles. We can reach a private settlement regarding the credit allocation."
Eleanor did not smile back. She kept her hands resting casually in the pockets of her white trousers, projecting absolute, unshakable control. "There is nothing to settle, Arthur. Your firm entered into a high-risk, unverified venture with a disgraced executive who lacked the legal authority to pledge corporate assets as collateral. That is the definition of a bad investment."
"Julian assured us—" Arthur began, before cutting himself off as he realized how pathetic he sounded quoting a man who was currently living out of a budget motel.
"Julian lied to you," Eleanor interrupted smoothly. "And you chose to believe him because his greed matched your own. That is not my problem, nor is it the responsibility of this corporation to bail out predatory lenders who skipped standard due diligence."
Arthur’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "You think you’re untouchable just because you hold all the shares right now. Markets fluctuate, Ms. Vance. Regulatory bodies can be influenced. Friends in high places can suddenly find themselves facing unexpected inquiries."
Marcus stepped forward half a step, but Eleanor raised her hand slightly, halting him. She took a slow step closer to Arthur, invading his personal space with absolute calm.
"If you ever step foot into this building again without a formal, court-ordered subpoena, I will personally file criminal conspiracy charges against your firm for attempted corporate extortion," Eleanor said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, yet carrying the terrifying weight of absolute certainty. "Do not test me, Arthur. You are playing a game you have already lost."
Arthur held her gaze for three long, tense seconds before his resolve cracked. He gave a sharp, angry nod, turned on his heel, and stormed out toward the glass exit doors, his expensive leather shoes clicking angrily against the marble floor.
May you like
Marcus watched him leave before turning back to Eleanor. "He won't stop there. Pendelton has deep political connections in the regulatory commission."
"Let him try," Eleanor replied calmly, turning back toward the private elevator. "Sunlight is the best disinfectant. If he brings regulators, we will open every ledger we own. He has far more to hide in his offshore accounts than we do."
