CHAPTER 3 – THE BOARDROOM WHERE DOMINIC LEARNED HIS WIFE HAD NEVER BEEN ORDINARY
CHAPTER 3 – THE BOARDROOM WHERE DOMINIC LEARNED HIS WIFE HAD NEVER BEEN ORDINARY
At 2:17 p.m., Dominic Vance burst through the glass doors of VanceTech's headquarters.
The receptionist had never seen him look like this.
His tie hung loose around his neck.
His hair was damp with sweat.
"Where's everyone?"
"They're... already in the boardroom."
He didn't wait for the elevator.
He sprinted up the stairs two at a time.
When he pushed open the boardroom doors, the atmosphere hit him like a wall.
No one was talking.
Eight executives sat around the polished walnut table, their laptops closed. Their expressions ranged from anxious to defeated.
His CFO, Martin Reeves, stood by the screen, gripping a folder so tightly his knuckles had turned white.
Dominic frowned.
"What is this? Why is everyone sitting here like somebody died?"
Martin swallowed.
"I wish that were the worst news."
Dominic threw his briefcase onto the table.
"Fine. Talk."
Martin clicked the remote.
The projector illuminated the wall.
A single sentence appeared.
ALL BROOKS GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS SUSPENDED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Dominic laughed.
"That's impossible."
"It isn't."
"Their infrastructure division has frozen every pending contract."
"We don't even do business with Brooks Global."
Martin stared at him.
"That's what we believed."
He clicked again.
A network diagram appeared.
Dozens of investment firms.
Banks.
Construction giants.
Cloud providers.
Government contractors.
Nearly every line eventually connected to one company.
BROOKS GLOBAL CORPORATION
Martin spoke quietly.
"Brooks Global doesn't invest directly."
"They invest through holding companies."
"Private equity funds."
"International infrastructure trusts."
"They own minority positions everywhere."
Dominic folded his arms.
"So?"
"So..."
Martin highlighted six different companies.
"Those six firms account for sixty-eight percent of our revenue."
Dominic's confidence began to crack.
"They can't all belong to Brooks."
"They do."
Another click.
"NorthBridge Capital."
"Stonewell Infrastructure."
"Atlas Municipal Systems."
"Crest Financial."
"Argent Holdings."
"Horizon Logistics."
One after another.
Every major client.
Every strategic investor.
Every expansion partner.
All connected.
Martin looked directly into Dominic's eyes.
"They've all suspended business."
The room remained silent.
Dominic forced himself to smile.
"They're bluffing."
"No."
"They'll come back."
"No."
"They need us."
Martin slowly shook his head.
"No, Dominic."
"They don't."
The conference room doors opened.
Corporate attorney Evelyn Grant entered carrying another stack of documents.
"I've just received notices from three additional banks."
She placed them on the table.
"Our operating credit line has been frozen."
"Our acquisition loan is under review."
"And payroll financing has been suspended pending risk assessment."
Dominic slammed both hands onto the table.
"This is corporate sabotage!"
"No."
Evelyn adjusted her glasses.
"It's legal."
"They're exercising contractual discretion."
"But why?"
She hesitated.
Then slid one confidential memo toward him.
Across the top it read:
REPUTATIONAL RISK REVIEW
Under the explanation was one sentence.
Concerns regarding executive judgment following treatment of immediate Brooks family member.
Dominic frowned.
"Immediate Brooks family member?"
He looked up.
"What does that even mean?"
No one answered.
Because nobody understood it either.
At that exact moment...
Across the city...
Inside Brooks Global Headquarters.
The top floor had remained closed all afternoon.
Twenty-three executives from around the world sat around a circular conference table.
Every one of them answered to Charles Brooks.
The eighty-year-old founder stood before the panoramic windows overlooking Manhattan.
He never raised his voice.
He never needed to.
"My daughter hid her name because she wanted an honest marriage."
No one interrupted.
"I respected that decision."
Another pause.
"Dominic Vance mistook kindness for weakness."
Charles slowly turned.
His eyes swept across the room.
"I will not destroy his company."
Several executives exchanged confused glances.
Charles continued.
"I will simply remove every privilege he received because of my family's silent support."
The Chief Investment Officer nodded.
"The market will finish the rest."
Charles smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
Audrey watched from a private lounge overlooking the boardroom through one-way glass.
She had changed into comfortable clothes.
Her incision still hurt.
Leo slept peacefully beside her in a handcrafted bassinet.
Her father's assistant entered quietly.
"Miss Brooks."
She looked up.
"Yes?"
"The media has begun asking questions."
She sighed.
"Already?"
"Someone photographed you boarding the city bus with the baby."
Her face remained calm.
"Don't respond."
"Not yet."
The assistant nodded.
"There is one more matter."
"What?"
"The divorce attorneys are ready."
Audrey looked at her wedding ring.
She slowly removed it.
For nearly two years it had represented hope.
Now...
It felt heavier than iron.
May you like
She placed it on the table.
"I'm ready."
