Chapter 9
The fluorescent lights of the catering kitchen flickered back to life with an aggressive, buzzing hum. Julian scrambled to his feet, pulling Clara behind him as Victor Vance turned and walked out through the swinging double doors, the golden retriever puppy tucked contentedly under his arm.
"Stop right there!" Julian shouted, lunging forward, but his path was instantly blocked by two men in identical black tactical suits who materialized from the shadows of the hallway.
Maya remained standing in the center of the kitchen floor, smoothing down the purple tulle of her dress. She pulled a small, laminated badge from her pocket, clipped it onto her sash, and looked up at Clara and Julian with an expression of profound bureaucratic authority.
"According to Amendment 9, subsection twelve," Maya recited clearly, her voice echoing off the stainless-steel counters, "Victor Vance has officially stepped down as head of the family trust. As the majority stakeholder, I have assumed executive control of all familial and marital assets. Which means, legally speaking, I am now your boss."
Clara stared down at the six-year-old, her face completely pale. The sheer absurdity of the situation had finally crossed the line from bizarre psychological torture into absolute, inescapable madness. "Maya... you're six years old. You can't be our legal guardian."
"In the state of Delaware, corporate entities registered as trusts can hold guardianship rights over indebted parties if the marriage license lacks a parental waiver," Maya stated smoothly, pulling a tiny pink calculator from her pocket and tapping the buttons with precision. "You signed the paper, Clara. The cryptographic fingerprint authenticated the transfer. Julian is now my Chief Operating Officer, and you are my Director of Domestic Operations."
Julian let out a sharp, hysterical laugh that bordered on crying. "Director of Domestic Operations? Are you out of your mind? We are getting married! This is a wedding reception, not a hostile corporate merger!"
"It was a wedding reception," Maya corrected, pointing a small plastic finger at the double doors. "Now it’s a board meeting. And our first item on the agenda is inventory control."
Before Julian could argue further, the kitchen doors swung open again. This time, it wasn't Victor. A team of caterers—or men dressed as caterers—began wheeling in massive stainless-steel crates marked with biohazard symbols and corporate stamps reading VANCE CONFECTIONERY HOLDINGS.
Clara gripped Julian’s arm, her fingernails digging deep into his tuxedo sleeve. "Julian, look at the stamps on those crates. Those aren't dessert supplies."
Julian stepped closer, squinting at the bold lettering printed across the side of the nearest crate. Classified Asset: Project Sweettooth - Phase 2.
May you like
"What is Phase 2?" Julian demanded, turning his fierce gaze back down to Maya.
Maya smiled innocently, popping a lollipop back into her mouth. "Phase 2 is the asset liquidation phase. And since you’re my COO, Uncle Julian, you get to open the first box."
