The boardroom fell into dead silence, broken only by the hum of the air conditioning and Richard’s heavy breathing.
His face turned a deep, furious crimson as he slammed both palms down on the polished glass tabletop.
Richard: You can't do this! I am Vance Maritime! My name is on the front of the building!
Arthur: The Vance name belongs to my brother's legacy, not your personal playground.
Richard: I will sue every single person in this room! I’ll file an emergency injunction before noon!
Sarah: Go ahead and call your lawyers, Richard. In fact, use the speakerphone so we can all hear what they say.
Richard yanked his smartphone from his pocket, dialing frantically with his thumb while Chloe stood behind him, chewing her bottom lip.
Richard: Harold! Get the legal team together right now. My wife is attempting an illegal hostile takeover in the main boardroom!
Harold: Richard? Where are you right now?
Richard: I'm at the headquarters! They are claiming the nineteen ninety-nine trust overrides our prenup!
Harold: Richard... listen to me very carefully. Do not sign anything, and do not make any public statements.
Richard: Just tell them they have no legal right to remove me!
Harold: Arthur Vance sent our office the original certified trust deed at six this morning. We cross-checked the state registries.
Richard: And? Tell them it's invalid!
Harold: It's completely airtight, Richard. Your father-in-law structured the entire corporation under Sarah's sole discretion.
Richard: What are you saying?
Harold: I'm saying the prenup only protects personal property acquired prior to marriage. The company and the real estate belong entirely to the trust.
Richard: That's impossible! I've been running this business for over twenty years!
Harold: You were running it as an appointed executive officer. The trustee has the absolute legal power to terminate you at will.
Richard: You’re my divorce lawyer! You're supposed to protect my interests!
Harold: I can only work with reality, Richard. If you stay on the premises after being formally dismissed, they can have you arrested for commercial trespassing.
The call went dead, leaving Richard staring at the blank screen of his phone in utter disbelief.
Chloe took a step backward toward the exit, her eyes wide with terror as she realized the golden lifestyle was vanishing before her eyes.
Chloe: Richard... is this true? Are you really broke?
Richard: Chloe, shut up for a second! Let me think!
Sarah: He isn't broke yet, Chloe. He still has the suburban condo in Queens and five hundred thousand dollars from his personal savings account.
Sarah: The exact same offer he thought was generous enough for twenty years of my loyalty.
Richard: Sarah... please. We don't have to air our private laundry in front of the board. Let's talk in private.
Sarah: You didn't want to talk in private last night when you had building security throw my luggage onto the wet sidewalk.
Richard: I was angry! I was stressed about the upcoming quarterly filings!
Sarah: No, Richard. You were arrogant. And now, you are officially unemployed.
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