Howard Chen shifted uncomfortably. "Mrs. Thompson, with all due respect, you're not an official board member—""Not an official board member?" Victoria's voice climbed with theatrical outrage. "I hold proxy voting rights for Robert's shares! Forty-two percent of this company! And none of you thought to inform me that you were gathering to discuss the company's future?"She spun to face Thomas Bradford. "You, Bradford. You've been kissing Robert's feet for five years, begging for promotions, for bonuses, for favors. Where's that loyalty now? The moment he's down, you're here conspiring with his enemies?"Bradford's face flushed. "I wasn't conspiring—""Then what do you call this?" Victoria gestured around the room. "An emergency meeting called without informing the CEO's representative? Listening to wild accusations from a convicted criminal? Considering evidence presented by a man who murdered my husband's wife in cold blood just days ago?"She turned her attention to the other execut

The projection screen lit up again. This time, the documents were different. Medical records from the night of the wedding. Toxicology reports showing exactly what drugs had been in Alexander's system. Security footage from the hotel, showing Victoria entering specific rooms at specific times, carrying specific items.But it was the next set of documents that made the room gasp collectively.Recordings. Audio files of conversations between Robert and Victoria, discussing the plan to frame Alexander. Bank transfers showing payments to witnesses. Emails detailing exactly how to orchestrate the scandal.And finally—most damning of all—footage from the wedding night itself. Not the bedroom where Victoria claimed the assault happened, but the hallway. Showing Victoria drugging Alexander's champagne. Showing her leading him, barely conscious, toward the prepared room. Showing her screaming on cue when Robert's men burst in.The entire frame job, captured in high definition.Victoria's face

"Disagree all you want," Thomas Bradford shot back, his voice rising. "But we're not just going to bow down to some thug who throws coins at people!""That's right!" Sarah Mitchell added. "There has to be a way to resist this takeover without destroying ourselves in the process!"Director Martin Miles—the executive who'd nearly had his jugular severed by Alexander's coin—stepped forward, his face twisted with anger. He pointed an accusing finger at Director Jones and Director Harrison."I see what this is really about," Miles said, his voice dripping with contempt. "You two never liked the Thompson family from the beginning, did you? This is just convenient for you. A perfect excuse to switch sides without looking like traitors!"Several heads nodded in agreement, murmurs of support rippling through the group."That's not fair—" Jones started."Isn't it?" Miles interrupted sharply. "Everyone knows you and Harrison have been trying to undermine Robert for years! Always questioning his

The headlines blazed across every news outlet, every business channel, every financial website. Within hours, the story had gone viral.Social media exploded with speculation, debate, and wild theories.On Twitter, the hashtag #ThompsonHoldings was trending nationally within two hours of the announcement.@BusinessInsider247: "Thompson Holdings just announced a complete leadership overhaul. New CEO and Chairman installed. No names released yet. What's going on?? #ThompsonHoldings"@FinanceGuru88: "This is unprecedented. Robert Thompson built that company from nothing. Now he's OUT? After the banquet disaster, the hospitalizations, and now this? The Thompson empire is DONE. #ThompsonCrisis"@CorporateWatch: "Breaking: All Thompson family members removed from Thompson Holdings board. New leadership identity kept confidential. Stock price dropping 12% in after-hours trading. #Breaking"The replies came flooding in by the thousands:@InvestorJoe: "Who's the new CEO?? Anyone have insider i

"We're screwed anyway!" Hank's voice climbed toward hysteria. "Don't you understand? This isn't just about losing our cash cow! When the fraud is discovered—and it WILL be discovered—we're looking at criminal charges! Prison time! The complete destruction of everything we've built!"The weight of that reality settled over them like a funeral shroud.James took a long drink of whiskey, his hand trembling slightly. "How did it come to this? Everything was fine a week ago! Thompson Holdings was stable, Robert was in control, the money was flowing perfectly!""And then that banquet happened," Sebastian said quietly. "Whatever occurred there destroyed everything. Robert broken. Jason nearly dead. Victoria arrested—""Arrested?" Hank's head snapped up. "Victoria was arrested?""Haven't you been watching the news?" Sebastian pulled out his phone, showing a video. "She was dragged out of Thompson Holdings Tower screaming like a lunatic. Security footage leaked to the press. It's all over soci