Chapter 4 - The Strike Back
Evelyn Vance was not a woman who conceded defeat easily. Realizing that I had uncovered her paper trail and severed ties with her, she launched a pre-emptive strike to protect her standing.
On Friday morning, the front page of major financial tabloids broke a bombshell story: Vance Global CEO Mismanaging Corporate Assets for Personal Scandals.
The articles alleged that I was using company resources to fund a secret lover and cover up an illegitimate child, questioning my stability and fitness as Chief Executive ahead of the multi-billion-dollar merger with European tech giant, Kronos Group.
The board of directors panicked. An emergency board meeting was called for Monday morning at 9:00 AM.
I arrived at Maren’s townhouse that evening to find two news vans parked down the street. Anger flared in my chest. Evelyn was willing to throw Maren and our infant son to the media wolves just to force me into submission.
I parked in the alley behind her house and knocked on the back door. Maren opened it immediately, holding Liam close to her chest, her face pale.
"They've been ringing the doorbell all day," she whispered, her hands shaking slightly. "Everett, they have cameras outside."
"I know. I'm so sorry, Maren," I said, stepping inside and locking the door behind me. "My mother leaked the story to pressure the board into removing me. She thinks if she forces me out, she can take control of the company and pressure you into a settlement without me in the way."
"What are we going to do?" Maren asked, looking down at Liam, who was sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the storm raging around his family.
I looked at Maren, seeing the fear in her eyes, but also a deep strength that had kept her going alone for nine months. I reached out, gently taking her hand. She didn't pull away.
May you like
"We stop hiding," I said firmly. "My mother thrives in the shadows, using fear and secrecy to control people. On Monday, I'm going to that board meeting, and I'm going to lay out every single truth. But I need you to trust me."
Maren searched my eyes for a long moment. For the first time in months, the wall between us seemed to crack. "I trust you, Everett. Just protect our son."
