Chapter 10 - The Boardroom Reckoning-10
Two days after the Atlantic Legacy Gala, the glass-and-steel skyscraper housing the former corporate headquarters of Holloway Meridian Group was in a state of utter pandemonium.
Employees wandered through the hallways in a daze, news vans circled the building like vultures, and the board of directors was gathered inside the executive conference room on the top floor, shouting frantically at one another over the firm’s sudden, catastrophic insolvency.
The heavy double doors of the boardroom were pushed open.
Seraphina Bellamy entered, flanked by Julian Vance and a team of six senior corporate attorneys carrying thick black leather binders. The entire board went dead silent as Seraphina walked to the head of the long mahogany table—the very chair Grant had occupied for five years—and sat down.
"Good morning, gentlemen," Seraphina said, setting her sapphire ringed hands flat on the polished wood. "I am Chairwoman Bellamy. As of 8:00 a.m. today, Bellamy Holdings has completed the debt-for-equity swap acquiring one hundred percent of Holloway Meridian Group."
The lead board member, a nervous man named Arthur Pendelton, cleared his throat nervously. "Madam Chairwoman... what about Grant Holloway? What about our stock options? We had no idea he was committing wire fraud!"
"Ignorance is not an excuse for negligence, Mr. Pendelton," Seraphina replied sharply. "You sat on this board for five years, accepting massive bonuses while ignoring the obvious discrepancies in your quarterly audit reports. You enabled Grant’s arrogance because it paid well."
She signaled to her legal team, who began sliding thick severance packages across the table to each board member.
"Every member of this board is terminated, effective immediately," Seraphina announced without a shred of hesitation. "You will surrender your access keycards, your corporate devices, and your stock agreements. In exchange, Bellamy Holdings will refrain from naming you as co-defendants in the upcoming federal civil litigation."
The board members looked at the documents, then at the formidable wall of attorneys standing behind Seraphina. Realizing they had zero leverage, they signed the agreements one by one, placed their keycards on the table, and filed out of the room like defeated soldiers.
Once the room was clear, Julian Vance stepped forward, handing Seraphina a private security update.
"Grant Holloway’s bail hearing was held an hour ago," Julian reported. "The magistrate set his bail at ten million dollars cash, citing him as a severe flight risk due to the offshore accounts. He remains in federal custody at the Miami Detention Center."
"And Delaney Cross?" Seraphina asked.
"Her family refused to post her bond," Julian said with a slight smile. "She has turned state’s evidence against Grant, providing federal prosecutors with three years of encrypted text messages and bank receipts detailing his instructions to alter corporate ledgers."
Seraphina looked out the floor-to-ceiling glass window, watching the ships glide across Biscayne Bay.
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"Honor among thieves never lasts when the ledger is exposed," Seraphina murmured softly. "Ensure that all employees below the executive tier retain their positions with full salary benefits. Holloway Meridian Group is dead. Rebrand the firm as Bellamy Urban Renewal."
"Right away, Chairwoman," Julian bowed.
