Chapter 5 - The Corporate Fallout
By seven o’clock the following morning, the storm had already begun.
I was sitting in my favorite armchair in the library of the Carter Estate, sipping chamomile tea and wearing a soft cashmere sweater, when Ethan walked in. He looked tired, having spent the entire night reviewing legal documents and communicating with our board of directors.
“It’s done,” Ethan said, setting a tablet on the table beside me. “Our legal team officially notified Mitchell Holdings at 6:00 AM that Carter Global is withdrawing from the funding agreement due to a breach of character ethics clauses in our preliminary contract.”
“How did George Mitchell react?” I asked.
“He called my personal cell twenty-four times before I blocked his number,” Ethan replied, sitting opposite me. “His board is in total panic. Without our capital, their commercial real estate projects will default by the end of the month. They’re facing immediate liquidation.”
Just then, my butler, Arthur, entered the library with a silver tray. “Madam, there is a lady at the main gate demanding to see you. She refuses to leave.”
I picked up the security monitor on my desk. Live footage from the front entrance showed Vanessa standing outside the high iron gates of our estate. She was no longer wearing her designer gown; she looked frantic, wearing oversized sunglasses and a trench coat, holding a massive bouquet of white orchids.
“Should I call the police, Mrs. Carter?” Arthur asked politely.
“No,” I said, setting my teacup down. “Let her in, Arthur. Let her see what a real home looks like.”
Ethan frowned. “Mom, you don’t have to deal with her again.”
“I’m not dealing with her out of weakness, Ethan,” I smiled gently. “I’m giving her the final lesson she so desperately needs.”
Ten minutes later, Vanessa was escorted into the grand library. Her eyes widened as she took in the towering mahogany bookshelves, the priceless oil paintings, and the sheer historical elegance of the Carter family home. This was a level of wealth and legacy the Mitchell family could only dream of reaching.
She stopped in the center of the room, looking at me sitting comfortably in my chair, looking every bit the multi-billionaire chairwoman I actually was.
May you like
“Mrs. Carter...” Vanessa began, her voice trembling. She dropped the orchids onto a side table and took a step forward, tears welling in her eyes. “Please. I beg of you. Don’t destroy my family. My father is losing everything. The banks are calling in his loans right now.”
I looked at her coolly, taking a slow sip of my tea. “Sit down, Vanessa.”
