Chapter 10 - The Ambush at Sunrise
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The sun rose over the New York City skyline, casting long golden beams across the glass skyscrapers.
By six-forty-five in the morning, the eighth-floor boardroom of Holloway Tower was filled with bewildered executives.
Twelve senior board members sat around the forty-foot glass conference table, murmuring among themselves in nervous confusion.
They had all seen the viral videos leaked on social media from the rehearsal dinner the night before.
Headlines from major financial news outlets were already flashing across the wall-mounted television screens:
HOLLOWAY BILLIONAIRE CANCELS WEDDING AMID SHOCKING FAMILY SCANDAL.
STOCKS DIP 4% IN PRE-MARKET TRADING.
At precisely six-fifty-five, the heavy double doors opened.
Julian Holloway strode into the room, looking immaculate in a charcoal-gray bespoke three-piece suit.
His hair was perfectly styled, and his posture was commanding, though the slight twitch in his left jaw gave away his inner tension.
He took his seat at the head of the long table, resting his hands on a leather portfolio.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” Julian said, his voice projecting calm authority.
“I apologize for summoning you on such short notice.”
Arthur Vance, the seventy-year-old former chairman and oldest board member, leaned forward with a frown.
“Julian, what the hell is going on?” Vance demanded bluntly.
“The market opens in two hours, and Twitter is crawling with rumors about Grant fighting you at his own rehearsal dinner!”
Julian raised a sympathetic, practiced hand to calm the room.
“Unfortunately, Arthur, my cousin Grant has suffered a severe emotional breakdown,” Julian said with manufactured regret.
“He assaulted me physically in front of hundreds of prominent guests last night.”
“He made completely baseless allegations regarding the family foundation and fabricated claims about an unrecognized heir.”
Murmurs of shock rippled across the conference table.
Julian opened his portfolio and slid several legal documents across the glass surface.
“Under Section Four of our corporate governance charter, the board holds the power to temporarily suspend the CEO if he exhibits signs of mental instability that threaten company assets.”
“With my voting shares and the Monroe family proxy, we have enough support to pass this resolution right now.”
“I am prepared to step in as interim Chief Executive Officer to stabilize our stock price before the opening bell.”
Vance adjusted his glasses and looked through the documents with hesitation.
“Does Grant know about this vote?” Vance asked.
Julian smiled coldly.
“Grant is currently incapacitated and unfit to participate in corporate governance.”
Suddenly, the heavy boardroom doors swung open with a loud, resounding bang.
“Is that so, Julian?” a deep, powerful voice echoed through the chamber.
Every head in the room snapped toward the entrance.
Grant Holloway walked through the doorway, radiating undeniable authority and absolute control.
He wore a pristine dark navy suit, his posture tall and commanding.
Behind him walked Rachel Bennett, pushing a cart stacked with thick black legal binders.
And walking beside Grant, with her chin held high and her eyes steady, was Mia Carter.
She wore a sharp, tailored ivory suit that complemented her dark hair, carrying herself not as a frightened waitress, but as a woman who knew exactly who she was.
Julian’s polished smile vanished instantly, replaced by a look of sheer, unadulterated venom.
“You have no right to enter this room with unauthorized personnel, Grant!” Julian shouted, slamming his palm on the table.
Grant walked straight down the length of the conference room until he reached the opposite end of the forty-foot table.
“This isn't unauthorized personnel, Julian,” Grant said, his voice ringing with absolute certainty.
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“This is Mia Holloway.”
“And she owns thirty percent of the chair you’re sitting in.”
