Chapter 7 - The Sovereign’s Court
When the boardroom doors clicked shut once more, Nathan walked back to the head of the table.
The directors, who had spent the last two years treating Daniel like an infallible golden boy, were now sweating through their tailored shirts. They looked at Nathan as if he were a mythical king who had returned from the underworld to reclaim his throne.
"Gentlemen," Nathan announced, resting both hands on the table. "Effective immediately, the Board of Directors of Whitmore Logistics is dissolved."
Several men gasped, but Nathan raised a single hand, cutting off any protest.
"You stood by while my father was poisoned. You approved multi-million-dollar offshore transfers without auditing the recipient accounts. You turned a blind eye to Daniel's incompetence because you thought an empty suit would let you plunder the company's pension funds."
Nathan pointed toward Marcus Vance.
"Marcus is now Executive Vice Chairman. Every executive who wishes to remain must submit to a full internal forensic audit within the next forty-eight hours. If your hands are clean, you keep your seat. If they are dirty, you will join Margaret in federal custody."
Nathan turned to the woman standing proudly at his side. He reached out and took Claire’s hand in his, raising it before the stunned assembly.
"Furthermore," Nathan declared, his voice echoing with profound certainty, "I hereby name Claire Ashford Whitmore as Co-Trustee and Executive Director of the Whitmore Foundation, with full veto authority over all philanthropic and operational dividends."
Claire’s heart skipped a beat. She looked at Nathan in astonishment.
She had married him to escape a horrific, abusive arrangement orchestrated by her greedy relatives. She had expected to be his protector, his caregiver, perhaps a partner in a mutual war against Daniel. She had never dreamed that he would place half of an international empire into her hands.
"Nathaniel," Claire whispered, her fingers curling around his. "I... I don't know the logistics business."
"You know loyalty," Nathan replied softly, his fierce silver eyes softening as he looked down at her. "You saw through my brother's disguise in seconds, yet you walked down the aisle with a man the world deemed broken. You stood by me when I had nothing to offer you but an empty mansion and a war. That makes you more qualified than anyone in this room."
May you like
He turned back to the room. "Meeting adjourned."
Without waiting for a response, Nathan escorted Claire out of the boardroom and into the private penthouse elevator, leaving thirty breathless billionaires scrambling to save their careers.
