The press conference was announced with less than 24 hours' notice.
No names. No agenda. Just an embossed GNV emblem and a cryptic subject line:
"A Statement from the Founder."
By morning, the speculation was wildfire.
Had Anita George returned?
Was there a leadership shake-up?
Was Marcus Delaney being ousted?
Marcus's camp issued a soft denial. "Ms. George retains honorary status but is not active in company affairs."
That morning, he didn't smile once.
The auditorium at GNV's headquarters hadn't been used since Anita's departure.
Now, it buzzed with journalists, analysts, and shareholders hungry for disruption.
At exactly 10:00 a.m., the doors closed.
And Anita stepped onto the stage.
She wore black. Not for drama—for mourning. Of what GNV had become. Of the woman she used to be.
The room fell silent.
"No lengthy preamble," she began. "Just the truth."
Her voice was calm, controlled. But every word hit like a scalpel.
"For months now, I've watched the company I built morph into a shadow of its former self. Led by a man who confuses ambition with exploitation. Innovation with theft. Loyalty with control."
She paused. The room held its breath.
"As of today, I am formally activating my founder's clause to challenge the validity of recent mergers, acquisitions, and strategic redirections—particularly those linked to Ashcroft Holdings."
Gasps echoed. Cameras clicked like machine guns.
"I will not stand by while this company is cannibalized from within. The silence is over."
Marcus watched from his office, the livestream frozen on Anita's face. Calm. Focused. Radiant in resolve.
She wasn't bluffing.
And worse—she had Clara. He knew it now. She'd flipped someone close. That's how she got Ashcroft's name.
He slammed his fist on the desk.
"She's going to war," he muttered.
Yes, she was.
Julian watched too—from the back of the room. He didn't clap when she finished. Didn't need to.
He just watched her walk off the stage like a woman with fire in her bones.
Like a woman who meant to burn the lies down to ash.
And the world finally saw it:
Anita George wasn't just back.
She was done hiding.