Chapter 1: The Board Chooses Its Owner
The kitchen remained frozen long after Sophia disappeared through the doorway.
Damien stared at the wedding ring she had left beside the spilled coffee.
"No..." he whispered. "This has to be some kind of joke."
His phone rang again.
This time, he answered.
"Damien Lang speaking."
A calm voice interrupted him before he could continue.
"Mr. Lang, effective immediately, your corporate credentials have been revoked. Your access cards, executive accounts, and company authorization are no longer valid."
"What?"
"I'm sorry, sir. The order came directly from the controlling shareholder."
The line went dead.
Vivienne suddenly gasped.
"My accounts..."
She frantically refreshed her banking app.
Every personal account displayed the same message.
Access Temporarily Suspended Pending Ownership Review.
Richard rushed toward his study, convinced he could stop whatever was happening.
He couldn't.
The biometric lock no longer recognized him.
A black SUV rolled through the estate gates.
Then another.
Private security.
Not the Lang family's security.
Sophia's.
Marcus Hale stepped out first.
His charcoal suit was immaculate.
He carried a leather portfolio beneath one arm.
Two attorneys followed behind him.
"Good morning," Marcus said evenly.
"I'm here on behalf of Ms. Sophia Lang."
Richard stepped forward.
"You work for me."
Marcus looked at him without emotion.
"I never did."
"I have worked exclusively for Ms. Lang for the past nine years."
Silence swallowed the foyer.
May you like
Then Marcus handed Richard a thick envelope.
"Formal notice of removal."
