Chapter 6: The Boardroom Arena**
Friday morning arrived under a blanket of heavy gray clouds. The Vance Enterprises headquarters towered fifty stories above the downtown financial district, an imposing monument of steel and glass.
Emily arrived beside Julian, dressed in a modest, professional navy suit he had insisted on purchasing for her. Security guards escorted them directly to the penthouse boardroom.
Inside, twelve board members sat around an immense mahogany table. At the far end sat Victoria, flanked by two high-profile defense attorneys, and Arthur Sterling, an older man with silver hair and an aura of untouchable authority.
"Julian," Sterling began with a condescending smile. "Bringing your household staff into an executive audit meeting is highly inappropriate. We are here to discuss corporate restructuring, not domestic disputes."
"We are here to address grand larceny and corporate sabotage, Arthur," Julian answered, taking his seat at the head of the table. "And Emily is not here as a domestic worker. She is here as our primary witness."
Victoria scoffed loudly. "This is absurd. Are we really letting a maid dictate board policy?"
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"Let's see whose voice carries more weight," Julian said calmly, sliding the flash drive into the podium's terminal.
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