Chapter 9 - The Fall of the Architect
The boardroom erupted into chaos. Several board members stood up, shouting in outrage at Derek.
"Derek, you traitor!" one of the senior investors roared. "You tried to tank our stock for a foreign buyout!"
Derek’s face went from pale to a dark, furious crimson. He looked at the screen, then at Vanessa, who was trembling, tears of panic ruining her perfect makeup. Realizing he was completely cornered, Derek’s corporate mask shattered entirely. He glared at Ethan with pure, unadulterated hatred.
"You think you're so smart, Ethan?" Derek hissed, slamming his hands on the table. "You built this company, but I made you rich! You owe everything to me! You would have never known! You would have married this corporate parasite and handed me the keys to the kingdom if it weren't for—"
Derek's eyes snapped to Lily, who was standing beside her mother, watching him with those calm, serious gray eyes.
"If it weren't for that filthy little street rat!" Derek yelled, lunging a step toward Lily.
Before he could even take a full stride, Ethan stepped directly into his path, his fist clenching, his eyes burning with a protective fury that made Derek instantly halt.
"Don't you ever look at her," Ethan said, his voice a dangerous, low growl that vibrated through the room. "The only person who is finished today, Derek, is you."
Right on cue, the double glass doors of the boardroom swung open. Four federal agents in dark suits, followed by two local police officers, entered the room.
"Derek Ward? Vanessa Vance?" the lead agent announced, pulling out a pair of badges and arrest warrants. "You are under arrest for federal corporate espionage, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and illegal electronic surveillance."
Vanessa broke down into heavy, ragged sobs as an officer stepped up behind her, pulling her arms behind her back and clicking the steel handcuffs into place around her wrists. The expensive diamond ring she wore caught the corporate lights one last time before she was led away, her head bowed in utter humiliation.
Derek didn't cry. He maintained his furious glare, his jaw tight as the federal agents cuffed him and escorted him out of the room. As he passed the doorway, he looked down at Lily one last time.
Lily didn't flinch. She simply waved a tiny, cheerful goodbye with her fingers.
The remaining board members stood in silence for a moment before turning back to Ethan. The chairman of the board stepped forward, clearing his throat.
"Ethan... we are profoundly sorry for doubting you. It appears you have saved Vale Harbor Systems from a historic catastrophe. The board stands entirely behind you. What are your terms for moving forward with the Lattice launch?"
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Ethan walked back to the head of the table, but he didn't look at the board members. He looked at Nora and Lily.
"My terms are simple," Ethan said, a warmth entering his voice that the corporate world had never heard before. "The launch of Lattice proceeds tomorrow. But today, I am restructuring the internal leadership. And I am making two new appointments."
