Chapter 6 - The Boardroom Confrontation
The next morning, Bennett Office Supply held an emergency all-hands meeting in their main conference room. Marisol tipped me off. Vanessa had called the meeting to announce "temporary pay cuts" across the board to weather the storm.
I didn't work there anymore, but I wasn't going to miss this.
I walked into the Bennett building, flanking Mr. Harrison from the bank and two uniformed police officers. The receptionist took one look at the cops and didn't even try to stop us.
We pushed open the double glass doors of the conference room just as Vanessa was standing at the head of the long mahogany table, playing the victim. Dad was sitting next to her, looking exhausted.
"...and while these financial headwinds are challenging, I promise you that as your President, I am doing everything in my power to secure our future—" Vanessa was saying.
"Actually, Vanessa, you don't have a future," I interrupted, my voice cutting through the silent room like a knife.
Vanessa froze. Dad stood up, his face flushing with anger. "Claire! What is the meaning of this? You are trespassing! Security!"
"Security works for the building owner, Dad," I said, stepping fully into the room. "And as of 9:00 a.m. this morning, the bank seized this company's assets due to loan default. I just purchased those assets from the bank. So, technically, you are trespassing on my property."
The entire room gasped. Thirty employees stared in shock.
"That's a lie!" Vanessa screeched, her perfectly manicured facade crumbling. "We have a $2.5 million line of credit! We're fine!"
Mr. Harrison stepped forward, his face like stone. "Ms. Bennett, the bank was made aware that the signatures on that line of credit were forged. Fraudulently securing a loan is a federal offense. The loan was recalled, your accounts were frozen, and the company is officially bankrupt."
Vanessa's face drained of all color. She looked wildly at Dad, but Dad was staring at me, absolute horror dawning in his eyes as he realized what his golden child had done.
"You forged Claire's signature?" Dad whispered, his voice trembling. "Vanessa... you committed fraud?"
"I did it for us!" Vanessa shrieked, tears of panic finally spilling over. "Claire left us with nothing! She took the software! I had to save the company, Dad! It's her fault!"
"No," one of the police officers said, stepping forward with handcuffs in his hands. "It's your fault, ma'am. Vanessa Bennett, you are under arrest for identity theft, corporate fraud, and forgery. Put your hands behind your back."
The room was dead silent except for the clicking of the metal cuffs. Vanessa sobbed hysterically as she was led out of the conference room, her crimson pantsuit suddenly looking a lot like a prison jumpsuit.
Dad collapsed into his leather chair, burying his face in his hands, completely broken. His legacy, his favorite daughter, his pride—all gone in the span of thirty days.
May you like
I looked around the room at the terrified employees, people I had worked with for years. "Nobody is losing their job today," I announced clearly. "Bennett Supply is dead. But Resilience Logistics is hiring. If you want to work for a company that values competence over bloodlines, see Marisol in HR to transition your contracts."
I turned on my heel and walked out, leaving my father alone in the ruins of the empire he chose over me.
