Chapter 5 - The Corporate Queen
Three Months Later.
The glass-walled executive suite of Sterling Global in downtown Manhattan offered a panoramic view of the skyline. The silver plaque on the massive mahogany door read: Jenna Vance, Chief Communications Officer.
The transition had been seamless. The industry press had gone wild over the appointment, calling it a masterstroke by Emmett Stewart to secure the most sought-after hidden voice in the tech sector. The stock of the company had risen another eight percent since my official start date, and for the first time in my life, I didn't have to hide behind confidentiality agreements to own my success.
A soft buzz intercom broke the quiet of my office. "Ms. Vance, your brother is downstairs in the lobby. He doesn't have an appointment, but he says it's an family emergency."
I leaned back in my leather chair, looking at the spreadsheet of our upcoming global launch. "Send him up, Sarah. Let's see what the emergency is."
Five minutes later, Nicholas walked through the door.
The change in him was striking. The arrogant, polished groom from the Vermont estate was entirely gone. His suit looked slightly worn, his tie was slightly askew, and he carried a thick portfolio under his arm like a salesman desperate to make a quota.
"Jenna," he said, his voice hesitant as he stood in front of my desk. He didn't sit down. He looked around the massive office, his eyes wide with the realization of the world I now commanded. "You... you have an incredible space here."
"It's a real career, Nicholas," I said calmly, setting down my pen. "What do you want?"
"The firm is falling apart, Jenna," he confessed, his hands trembling slightly as he laid the portfolio on the corner of my desk. "After Emmett pulled the European expansion deal, our other investors panicked. They think we’re toxic. We’ve lost forty percent of our clients in the last ninety days. Dad had to take out a second mortgage on the house just to keep the payroll clear this month."
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I looked at the portfolio. It was a proposal for a sub-contracting partnership with Sterling Global—a desperate plea for a lifeline.
"We need you, Jenna," Nicholas whispered, his pride finally completely gone. "I'm sorry for what I said at the wedding. I was a fool. I didn't see what was right in front of me. Please, talk to Emmett. Tell him we can handle the regional distribution. Just give us a chance to save the family name."
