Chapter 3: The Boardroom Storm**
Julianne watched the emotional display with rising panic. As Damian’s ambitious cousin and chief operations officer, she had spent the last two years orchestrating a hostile takeover behind closed doors. Today’s annual shareholder meeting was supposed to be her coronation—the day Damian would step down due to his declining health and complete withdrawal from public life.
“Take the child to security,” Julianne commanded two guards quietly. “We cannot have a public scene before the press conference.”
The guards hesitated, glancing at Damian.
Damian stood up, his posture transforming in an instant. He took Leo by the hand, their fingers interlocking. When he turned to Julianne, the broken man was gone; in his place stood the razor-sharp architect of the Aurelia Group.
“Touch him,” Damian said, his voice quiet yet carrying across the entire lobby, “and you will spend the rest of your life answering to federal prosecutors.”
Julianne stiffened. “Damian, be rational. The investors are upstairs. They won't tolerate distractions from a mysterious child who walked in off the street.”
“This boy is my son,” Damian announced clearly.
The lobby went dead silent once more. Front desk clerks stopped typing; security guards dropped their hands to their sides.
“And unlike the predators sitting around that boardroom table,” Damian continued, looking directly at Julianne, “he is the only person in this building who asked for nothing when he had the right to take everything.”
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Damian turned toward the private elevator. “Come on, Leo. Let’s show the board what an honest owner looks like.”
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