Chapter 6 - The Boardroom Ambush
At 9:00 AM the next morning, the grand executive boardroom of Crestview Developments was filled to capacity.
All six institutional investors, the bank syndication directors, and the senior project managers sat around the thirty-foot mahogany table.
Brenda Davis had arrived early, dressed in an expensive designer suit, frantically trying to access the company’s wire portal from her desktop terminal, only to be met with red error screens: ACCOUNT FROZEN BY ORDER OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT.
The double oak doors swung open.
Mark walked in, looking haggard and unwashed, having spent the night in a cheap airport motel. He tried to project executive authority as he took his seat at the head of the table.
“Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” Mark announced, clearing his throat. “Due to an emergency restructuring, we are voting today to dissolve the Founder's Trust and reassign all corporate executive powers exclusively to—"
The doors opened again.
I walked into the boardroom wearing a tailored charcoal suit, my hair pinned back, carrying a leather briefcase. Behind me walked Arthur Vance, lead forensic auditor David Miller, and Special Agent Sarah Morales from the FBI Financial Crimes Division.
“You don't have the floor, Mark,” I announced, my voice cutting through the room with absolute authority.
The board members gasped. Mark gripped the armrests of his executive chair, his knuckles turning white.
“Laura? You have no standing here!” Mark yelled. “Security! Escort this woman out!”
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Two corporate security guards stepped into the room, looked at the FBI badge displayed by Special Agent Morales, and immediately stood at attention against the back wall.
“Mr. Sterling,” Agent Morales announced, stepping to the podium. “Federal agents have just executed simultaneous search warrants on your private residence, Ms. Davis's apartment, and your commercial safe deposit boxes.”
