Samson Drake stared at the swirling mess of encrypted documents on his dual monitors, his fingers a blur across the keyboard. His jaw clenched as he navigated through yet another offshore account linked—faintly but undeniably—to Victor Voss and Damien.
The patterns were clearer now. Slush funds, backdoor payments, falsified invoices. It was all there, hiding beneath layers of digital deception. But Samson was done playing by the rules.
He leaned forward, muttering to himself, "You cornered the wrong lion this time."
A secure program blinked to life on his screen. He initiated a Level Four financial freeze across seven of their international accounts—slow, deliberate suffocation of the Voss empire. It was a bold, legally gray move, but every second counted.
As the command finalized, his phone buzzed.
"Sir," came the voice of his assistant, nervous and hurried. "Victor's called an emergency board meeting. Closed-door. He's at the head of the table already. Damien's with him. It's moving fast."
Samson froze. "Where the hell is Nathan?"
"Still in his office. I don't think he knows."
"Call him now. No delays. And warn him—this isn't just a meeting. It's a takedown."
Nathan Voss stared out his office window, lost in thought. Stephanie's absence had grown into a hollow ache, one that haunted even the most fleeting silence. The betrayal she believed in, the doubt in her eyes—it had gutted him more than he cared to admit.
He was jolted from his thoughts by a knock. One of his assistants pushed the door open, breathless.
"Sir, I just got word. The board is in an unscheduled session. Victor called it—Damien's there. They've locked the door and already started."
Nathan's brows snapped together. "They called a board meeting without informing me?"
"Yes, sir. And—there are murmurs. It's about leadership. About you."
His mind clicked into gear, cold and sharp. "Get my suit jacket. I'm going in now."
As he strode out, his voice was low, hard. "They want war? They'll get one."
The boardroom doors stood tall and ominous. Nathan pushed them open, the subtle creak of hinges drawing every eye in the room. Silence swept the space.
Victor Voss sat at the head of the table like a king reclaiming his throne, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. Damien lounged beside him, arrogant and smug, a shadow in the light.
Nathan didn't sit. He walked to the center, unbothered by their stares. "You called a board meeting without informing the majority shareholder. Interesting tactic."
Victor's lips curled. "Desperate times, nephew. We didn't want to disrupt your… emotional recovery."
Damien chuckled darkly. "From heartbreak to hostile takeover, huh? Busy week for you."
Nathan ignored him. His voice was level. "Let's stop pretending. This isn't about company performance. This is about control. It's about your panic that you're running out of time."
"Control," Victor repeated thoughtfully. "A word you use often. But control must be earned, not inherited. And you, Nathan, have done nothing but tarnish this company's legacy with scandals and sentimentality."
Board member Farrow, the oldest among them, leaned forward. "There's concern—shared concern—that Vosstech has become unstable under your watch. Investors are skittish. Employees uncertain. And with the media circling like vultures…"
Corinne, another board member, picked up the thread. "We're not confident you're ready, Mr. Voss. Until your birthday, Victor remains the legal CEO. But we're beginning to question whether we should reconsider succession altogether."
Nathan's fingers tightened at his sides. "That's not your decision to make. The bylaws are clear."
Victor smirked. "Bylaws can be rewritten."
A low murmur of agreement rippled around the table.
Nathan's gaze swept across the room, resting briefly on the faces he trusted—Samira, Leone, Harker. Only a few, all silent but alert.
"Let me make this clear," Nathan said, stepping forward. "I've held this company together while both of you drained it from within. The employees believe in me, not the vultures who feed off its bones."
Damien tilted his head. "So noble. But this isn't about speeches. This is about leadership. About results."
Victor leaned back, smug. "Then prove it. Deliver something even I couldn't."
Farrow cleared his throat. "The board has proposed a test. A chance to prove your capability. We'll convene tomorrow to discuss it further."
Nathan's eyes narrowed. "What kind of test?"
Corinne met his gaze coolly. "Something the company has failed to accomplish for years. If you want to be CEO, you'll have to achieve the impossible."
Victor gave a cold, satisfied smile. "We'll see you tomorrow, Nathan. Try not to disappoint us again."
As Nathan turned and walked out of the boardroom, the weight of their words clung to him like iron chains. He walked with his head high, steps firm—but inside, dread stirred.
They were coming for everything. And for the first time, they might succeed.