Chapter 3 - The Boardroom Slaughter.I walked into the towering glass lobby of Whitmore Enterprises at precisely nine in the morning.
I was not wearing my usual modest, conservative dresses.
Today, I wore a sharply tailored, blood-red designer suit.
Four of my father's most lethal security operatives flanked me.
The terrified receptionist at the front desk did not even try to stop us.
We bypassed security and stepped right into the private executive elevator.
I pressed the button for the top floor, watching the city shrink below me.
When the elevator doors pinged open, the penthouse level was in absolute chaos.
Executives were running down the halls with stacks of shredded documents.
Phones were ringing off the hook, completely unanswered.
I walked straight toward the main glass-walled boardroom.
Inside, Andrew's entire board of directors was screaming at each other.
I pushed the heavy glass doors open, and the room instantly fell silent.
Twelve middle-aged men turned to stare at me in absolute shock.
"Mariana?" asked Richard, the senior vice president.
"What are you doing here?" Richard demanded, trying to sound authoritative.
"You need to leave immediately, we are dealing with a massive crisis," another executive snapped.
I didn't blink.
I walked to the head of the long mahogany table.
The seat that belonged to Andrew.
I sat down, crossed my legs, and smiled at the panicked men.
"I am the crisis, gentlemen," I announced smoothly.
Victor stepped forward and slammed a thick legal binder onto the table.
"As of 2:00 AM this morning, Escalante Holdings has acquired ninety-two percent of Whitmore Enterprises' debt," Victor stated loudly.
The executives gasped, their faces turning chalk-white.
"Since the company missed its margin call at dawn, the debt has been converted into controlling equity," Victor continued.
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the polished wood.
"This means I own this company, I own this building, and I own all of you," I said softly.
Richard wiped sweat from his forehead.
"You... you are Escalante?" Richard stammered, terrified.
"Andrew told us you were just a former waitress he took pity on," Richard whispered.
I laughed, a sharp, merciless sound.
"Andrew is a fool who believed exactly what I wanted him to believe," I replied.
The boardroom doors suddenly slammed open again.
Andrew burst into the room, panting heavily, his designer suit wrinkled and stained with sweat.
He pointed a shaking finger at me.
"Get out of my chair, you psycho!" Andrew screamed.
Two of my guards instantly unholstered their weapons, aiming directly at Andrew's chest.
Andrew froze in his tracks, his eyes widening in pure terror.
I stood up slowly, smoothing the wrinkles from my red suit.
May you like
"You made me kneel last night, Andrew," I reminded him quietly.
"Now, it is your turn."
Related Stories
