Chapter 5 - THE TRAP IS SET
Gasps filled the boardroom. Victoria stared at her father in shock, while Sophia’s eyes flashed with a sudden, triumphant brilliance.
"Father, what are you doing?" Victoria whispered urgently, leaning toward him. "If you surrender the proxy today, Ethan will sign the merger documents by Friday!"
"Let him sign," Richard replied quietly, his eyes never leaving Sophia's face.
Richard turned back to the board. "I am voluntarily stepping down as Chairman of Whitmore Global, effective for ninety days. I surrender my operational proxy to my son, Ethan Whitmore."
Ethan smiled—a arrogant, victorious grin that mirrored his father's decades-old posture. "A wise decision, Father. You can retire in peace."
"However," Richard added, his voice cutting through Ethan's moment like a steel blade, "as founder, I retain exclusive access to the primary capital reserve vault and the original trust deeds. If Ethan fails to execute the merger under full regulatory compliance by 5:00 PM on Friday, the proxy reverts to me automatically, and all corporate assets will be subjected to an external forensic audit."
Sophia’s smile stiffened slightly.
A forensic audit.
That was the one thing she couldn't allow. The offshore accounts she had opened using stolen Whitmore credentials were hidden deep within the merger's shell structure. If a forensic audit took place before the deal closed, her entire operation would unravel.
Richard picked up his leather satchel, looked at his son one last time, and walked toward the boardroom doors.
May you like
As he passed Sophia, he leaned down slightly, his voice a feather-light whisper meant for her ears alone:
"You played a good game with those buttons, Sophia. But you forgot who built the floor they fell on."
