Chapter 20: The Devourer of Titans
At exactly 8:55 a.m. the next morning, Victor Sterling strutted back into my boardroom.
He looked like a man who had already won the war. He was sipping a coffee, laughing with his lawyers, already mentally measuring the drapes for his new office.
I was sitting behind my desk, perfectly composed, wearing a sharp black blazer. Daniel stood steadfastly by the door, his arms crossed.
"Good morning, Lauren!" Victor chimed, dropping the surrender documents onto my desk. "I trust your lawyers explained the reality of your situation? Sign on the dotted line. Let's make this painless."
I picked up a silver luxury pen. I looked at the document.
Then, I slowly pushed it off the edge of the desk. It fluttered to the floor like a piece of worthless trash.
Victor’s arrogant smile instantly vanished. "What do you think you are doing?"
"I told you yesterday that I needed twenty-four hours to review your contract," I said smoothly. "But I wasn't reviewing the contract, Victor. I was reviewing you."
I reached into my drawer and pulled out a thick, red leather folder. I slid it across the mahogany desk until it rested exactly where his surrender document had been.
"You were so desperate to seize my children's empire," I explained, my voice echoing loudly in the silent room. "That you took out a massive, high-interest loan from the Vanguard International Banking Syndicate to fund Eleanor's debt."
Victor froze. The color began to drain from his face.
"What you failed to realize, Victor," I continued, standing up slowly, "is that the Leo & Mia Foundation doesn't just build charities. We manage sovereign wealth. And last night, at 3:00 a.m., I authorized a hostile buyout."
I tapped the red folder with my manicured fingernail.
"I bought your debt, Victor. I bought your loans. I bought the very bank that holds the mortgage to your entire corporate empire."
Victor’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. His lawyers instantly began frantically typing on their phones, their faces turning ashen as the financial alerts started rolling in.
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"You... you couldn't have," Victor choked out, his hands trembling violently. "That would require billions in liquid capital!"
"I am the sole executor of the Harrington-Parker legacy," I said, my voice dropping to a terrifying, absolute whisper. "I have more capital than God. And as your primary creditor, I am officially calling in your loans. Effective immediately."
