Chapter 34 The Boardroom Coup （And Other Extreme Sports）
?The Cross Global Headquarters was a fortress of glass, steel, and people who took themselves way too seriously.
Usually, the atmosphere was one of "calculated silence.
"
?Today, the atmosphere was "impending riot.
"
?A fleet of black SUVs pulled up to the front revolving doors.
The press was already there, cameras flashing.
The first person to step out wasn't the CEO.
It was Arielle.
?She was wearing a power suit in a shade of red so aggressive it could be seen from the moon.
Behind her, the four sons walked in a "V" formation, looking like a K-pop group that had specialized in corporate espionage.
?Then came Lucian. He had finally washed off most of the glitter, but in the harsh fluorescent lights of the lobby, a single, stubborn sparkle remained on his left earlobe.
?Finally, the Dowager Empress, Beatrice, stepped out, leaning on her cane but looking like she was ready to use it as a weapon of mass destruction.
?"Remember," Arielle whispered to the group as they entered the elevator.
"No mercy. No hesitation. And Emrys, stop trying to hack the elevator music.
"
?"I'm just changing it to 'Imperial March' for our entrance, Mom!
" Emrys protested. "It’s about branding! "
?Inside the massive conference room, twelve men in charcoal suits sat around a mahogany table.
They were the Board. They were old, they were tired, and they were currently smug.
?The Chairman, a man named Mr. Henderson—who looked like a human prune—cleared his throat.
"Lucian. Beatrice. You've brought... the reality TV star?
This is a private meeting."
?Arielle didn't wait to be invited.
She pulled out the chair at the head of the table—the Chairman's chair—and sat down.
?"Actually, Mr. Henderson," Arielle said, placing her designer bag on the table with a loud thud. "I’m not here as a guest. I’m here as the majority proxy holder for the Cross-Vance merger shares.
"
?The board members exchanged confused looks.
"The Vance shares? Those have been dormant for a decade!
"
?"They were dormant," Zayden said, stepping forward and opening a sleek laptop that projected a series of terrifyingly complex graphs onto the wall.
"Until my mother realized that you've been skimming 4% off the top of the 'Innovation Fund' to pay for your private golf memberships. I’ve spent the last six hours on the village Wi-Fi tracking your offshore accounts.
It was surprisingly easy. You use 'Password123' for everything. "
?The room went cold.
?"Now," Arielle said, leaning back. "Let's talk about 'Reputational Damage.' You want to fire Lucian because he caught a fish with his hands and wore some glitter? That’s not a scandal. That’s engagement.
"
?"It's unprofessional!" Henderson barked.
?"You know what's unprofessional?" Rhett stepped forward, crossing his massive arms. "The fact that you tried to sell the company’s logistics arm to a shell company in the Caymans.
My brother Darian found the paper trail while he was supposed to be 'categorizing his socks.
' Turns out, he’s very good at categorizing crimes too.
"
?Darian nodded solemnly. "You have a very messy filing system, Mr. Henderson. It’s offensive to my sensibilities.
"
?Lucian, seeing his sons and ex-wife dismantle his enemies like a precision team of assassins, felt a strange mix of pride and sheer terror.
He leaned over to Lu Wei (who had somehow managed to sneak into the meeting by pretending to be a legal consultant).
?"I think I'm in love with her all over again," Lucian whispered.
?"Get in line," Lu Wei hissed back. "I’m currently her Chief Emotional Support Actor. "
?Beatrice, the Dowager Empress, stepped forward.
She looked at Henderson, the man she had known for forty years.
?"Henderson," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.
"I spent yesterday being spun around by a fisherman named Old Man Chen while wearing a crown of sunflowers. If I can survive that indignity for the sake of this company’s public image, you can survive being fired.
"
?"You can't fire us!" Henderson screamed.
"We represent the shareholders!"
?"Actually," Arielle said, checking her phone.
"The shareholders are currently watching a live-stream of this meeting.
Emrys?"
?"We're live on five platforms, Mom!
" Emrys shouted from the corner. "The 'Fire the Prunes' hashtag is currently #2 worldwide.
People really hate your tie, Mr. Henderson.
"
?The board members looked at the hidden cameras.
They looked at the graphs of their own corruption.
They looked at Arielle, who was currently eating a croissant she had pulled out of her bag.
?"Here’s the deal," Arielle said, wiping a crumb from her lip.
"You all resign. Now. In exchange, I won't hand Zayden's 400-page dossier on your tax evasion to the authorities.
You get to keep your pensions, and I get to go back to the village and finish my vacation.
"
?"And who will lead?" Henderson stammered.
?Arielle looked at Lucian. Then she looked at Beatrice.
Then she looked at her four sons.
?"The boys will take over the board seats," Arielle announced.
"Lucian remains CEO, but he reports to a new Chairperson.
"
?"And who is that?" Lucian asked, his heart thumping.
?Arielle smiled. It was the smile of a woman who had transmigrated, conquered, and was now ready for a nap.
?"Lin Yue."
?The doors burst open. Lin Yue walked in, wearing a suit that was even sharper than Arielle’s.
She looked terrified, but she was holding a tablet like a shield.
?"Me?!" Lin Yue squeaked.
?"You," Arielle said.
"You're petty, you're observant, and you're obsessed with me.
That makes you the perfect person to make sure these men don't mess up again. Plus, you’re the only one here who knows how to use social media for corporate warfare.
"
?Lin Yue looked at Lucian. She looked at the sons.
Then she looked at Arielle.
?"I accept," Lin Yue said, her voice gaining strength.
"First order of business: Mr. Henderson, you’re sitting in my chair. Move. Now."
?The Return of the "Real" Drama
?As the board members scrambled out of the room like rats in expensive shoes, Lucian walked up to Arielle.
?"Arielle," he said, his voice husky.
"You saved me. Again. How can I—"
?"Don't," Arielle said, holding up a hand.
"I didn't do it for you. I did it because Henderson tried to interrupt my breakfast."
?She turned to leave, but her phone rang.
It was the Director from the village.
?"Arielle!
Come back quick! Something's happened! The 'Hidden Sister' rumors... they weren't rumors! A girl has shown up at the village set! She’s claiming to be your long-lost daughter and she’s brought a birth certificate!
"
?Arielle froze. She looked at Lucian.
?"Lucian," she whispered. "Did you..
. did we..."
?"I told you," Lucian gasped.
"There were only four!"
?"Well," Arielle said, her eyes widening.
"It looks like the reality show just got a Season 2.
And this time, I'm going to need more than a red suit. "
?THE CORPORATE TAKEOVER IS COMPLETE! ????
Arielle just fired the board, made Lin Yue the Chairperson, and saved the company before lunch! But wait... A SECRET DAUGHTER?! ????
?In this chapter:
?Zayden proved that "Password123" is a crime. ??
?Lucian realized he’s basically a trophy husband now. ??
?Lin Yue got the ultimate "Green Tea" promotion! ????
?The Cliffhanger: Is there a fifth child?! Who is this girl?!
?I NEED YOUR VOTES TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY!
??
? VOTE if you think the "Secret Daughter" is a scam!
? COMMENT "TEAM SISTAS" if you want the boys to have a little sister to protect!
? FOLLOW me to see the DNA results in the next chapter—it’s going to be absolute chaos!