I never took Valerie's threats seriously.
Not until that afternoon, when I was in the middle of a board meeting with the shareholders. The conference room doors swung open, and in walked Valerie—flanked by Morris and a team of lawyers.
They strolled in like they owned the place, not a hint of respect in their eyes.
The assistant stood up. "You need to leave. Don't—"
"Ha! This is going to be my company. Why should I leave? You're the ones who should get lost."
Valerie shoved the assistant aside and strode forward, arrogance dripping from every step.
"Since everyone's here, I'll cut right to the chase." She swept her gaze across the boardroom. "From now on, this company belongs to me, not the Gilberts. This is a stock transfer contract, signed by Nathaniel Gilbert himself."
She slapped the document down in front of the shareholders and motioned for the lawyer she'd brought along to make the case.
The atmosphere turned suffocating. The shareholders exchanged uneasy glances, then picked up the contract and began reading.
I sat in my chair, watching Morris with a calm I didn't feel. Beneath the surface, a storm was raging.