Chapter 8: The Boardroom Purge
Three days later, the high-rise glass headquarters of Hawthorne Enterprises in downtown Manhattan buzzed with frantic energy. An emergency board meeting had been called by the interim trustees who had colluded with Vivian.
The boardroom doors opened without announcement.
Murmurs died instantly as Luca walked in, wearing a sharp charcoal three-piece suit, his posture immaculate, without a cane or support. Behind him walked Marcus and a team of forensic accountants carrying boxes of sealed audit reports.
"Take your seats, gentlemen," Luca said calmly, taking the center leather chair at the head of the conference table.
Board Member Davies, who had signed off on Vivian’s proxy approvals, turned pale. "Luca... we were told you were completely comatose in residential hospice."
"You were told what made your quarterly dividends look profitable," Luca said, sliding the audit folders across the glass table. "Effective immediately, every director who signed off on unauthorized offshore capital transfers is dismissed with cause. Criminal referrals have already been submitted to the SEC and the District Attorney."
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He stood up, looking across the room of stunned executives. "This company was founded on integrity and community welfare. If you forgot that, consider this your severance."
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