Chapter 3 - Freezing the Kingdom and Facing the Board
Back at corporate headquarters in downtown Chicago, the executive boardroom was tense. My board of directors sat in uneasy silence as I slammed the consolidated audit reports onto the mahogany table.
"Gentlemen," I began, my voice slicing through the air. "The acquisition of the European logistics network is postponed by forty-eight hours. We have an internal crisis to handle first."
My younger brother, Ryan—whom I had placed as regional director of Eastbridge’s Midwest operations—looked up from his tablet, sneering slightly. "An internal crisis? Sebastian, the board is waiting to sign off on a billion-dollar deal, and you're dragging family drama into the office? Mom called me an hour ago, hysterical. She said you threw her out of the estate over a household dispute."
I turned my cold, unblinking gaze onto my brother. For years, I had paid for Ryan’s lavish lifestyle, his luxury cars, and his downtown penthouse, believing he was simply enjoying the fruits of our shared success. Now, looking at the smug entitlement in his eyes, I saw the truth: he was complicit. He knew about Margaret's cruelty, or at least turned a blind eye to it because his allowance depended on her good graces.
"Ryan," I said quietly. "Open your tablet. Look at file seventy-four."
Ryan frowned, tapping his screen. A second later, the color drained entirely from his face. It was the financial audit of the Carter Family Trust—a subsidiary account funded by Eastbridge profits, managed exclusively by Margaret and rubber-stamped by Ryan. Over the last five years, over twelve million dollars had been funneled out of company accounts into offshore shell companies controlled by Margaret and private medical syndicates in Switzerland.
"This... this is a mistake," Ryan stammered, standing up. "Mom said these were operational expenses for family security—"
"These were prepayments for experimental oncology treatments and legal retainers designed to strip parental rights from Claire the moment our son was born," I said, my voice rising in volume, echoing off the glass walls. "You signed off on the secondary ledger, Ryan. You traded your sister-in-law's life and your nephew's future for a monthly retainer and a sports car."
"Sebastian, wait, we can talk about this—"
"Security," I commanded into the intercom on my desk.
Two broad-shouldered corporate security officers stepped into the boardroom instantly.
"Escort Mr. Ryan Carter from the premises. Revoke all corporate access cards, freeze all company-linked credit accounts in his name, and repossess his vehicles. If he attempts to contact any client or board member, file immediate charges for corporate malfeasance."
"You can't do this! I'm your brother!" Ryan screamed as the guards grabbed him by the arms, dragging him out of the room while the board members watched in stunned silence.
I leaned forward, placing both hands on the table, looking at every executive and director in the room.
May you like
"If anyone in this room has taken a single dime, instruction, or favor from Margaret Carter behind my back, stand up now and resign. Because over the next twenty-four hours, I am launching a full federal and civil investigation into my mother's estate. And anyone standing in my path will be swept away with her."
Not a single person moved. The war had begun, and I held all the cards.
