“What are you doing here?” Nathan barked. “Security! Remove this old woman! This is a board meeting, not bingo night!”
“Sit down,” Anthony said sharply.
Nathan refused—until he heard Anthony address her: “Madam Chairwoman, the floor is yours.”
Chairwoman?
Margaret rose, voice like steel.
“You never bothered to learn company history, Nathan. I didn’t marry the founder. I am the founder. I own 60% of the voting stock. I placed you in your position because I believed you loved my daughter. That was my mistake.”
She tore a document in half.
“You’re fired. Effective immediately. And blacklisted. You’ll never work in this industry again.”
Nathan began to crumble. “Margaret, please! Think of the scandal!”
“Oh, I am,” she said, sliding him a folder containing photos of Emily’s injuries. “The police outside are here for you.”
Officers escorted him out as he begged and sobbed.
The king had no throne.
After dismissing the board, Margaret returned home, where Emily waited at the kitchen table. As she set down a bowl of soup, Emily whispered, “Did you… talk to him?”
“He won’t trouble you again,” Margaret replied.
“He thinks he’s powerful,” Emily murmured.