Chapter 7 - The Morning After the Storm
By 1:00 AM, Gavin and Brielle were escorted out of the gates of the estate by security, carrying two cheap duffel bags of clothes. They didn't even have a car; Gavin's luxury Mercedes was a corporate lease, and the keys had been confiscated by Arthur. I watched from the window as they walked down the dark, empty street in the pouring rain, arguing fiercely with each other. The illusion of their glamorous romance had shattered the moment the money vanished.
The next morning, the sun rose over Raleigh, clear and bright.
I stood in front of the full-length mirror in the master bedroom, dressed in a sharp, tailored navy blue power suit. The faint bruises on my back were hidden beneath the fine fabric, a lingering reminder of the past, but my eyes were bright, clear, and filled with a fierce new purpose.
My father met me in the foyer, holding a cup of coffee. He looked at me with immense pride. "Are you ready, Vivian?"
"More than ready, Dad," I said, taking a sip of the coffee.
We drove to the corporate headquarters of Rourke Logistics in a fleet of black SUVs. When we arrived, the atmosphere in the building was tense. Word had already spread that something monumental was happening. The security guards at the front desk bowed respectfully as my father and I walked past.
We walked straight into the executive boardroom on the top floor. The entire board of directors, along with the senior vice presidents, were already seated, looking anxious.
When the door opened, they all stood up, expecting to see Gavin. Instead, they saw Malcolm Wexler, followed by me and a team of corporate lawyers.
"Sit down, gentlemen," my father said, taking a seat at the head of the table. I sat right next to him.
"Where is Gavin?" the VP of Operations asked, looking around nervously. "We have a major contract signing with Amazon’s regional distribution network in two hours. He’s supposed to lead the meeting."
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"Mr. Rourke has been permanently terminated from this organization for financial malpractice and ethical violations," Arthur Vance announced, laying out the official termination documents. "Effective immediately, the board will recognize the new Chief Executive Officer and majority stakeholder of this company."
My father turned to me and smiled. "Allow me to introduce Ms. Vivian Wexler."
