Chapter 5 - THE TIGHTENING NOOSE
By sunrise, the Vance family name was dragged through the dirt globally.
Victoria Vance was sitting in a cold holding cell, refusing to speak without her lawyers.
The stock price of Vance Enterprises plummeted by 45 percent within the first hour of trading.
Isabella sat in the executive office at the top of the Vance Tower.
She was staring at the empty leather chair where her mother usually sat.
"Where is Julian?" Isabella asked her assistant, her voice raspy.
"Mr. Julian is currently in an emergency conference with the board of directors," the assistant replied nervously.
"And... Miss Isabella... there is someone here to see you."
"I told you I'm not seeing any reporters!" Isabella yelled, throwing a glass paperweight against the door.
The door swung open.
Seraphina stepped into the room.
She wasn't wearing her cheap waitress uniform anymore.
She wore a sharp, tailored black business suit.
Her hair was styled perfectly.
The faint red scar on her cheek was the only reminder of the slap.
She looked so identical to Isabella that the assistant gasped and backed away instantly.
"Leave us," Seraphina ordered the assistant quietly.
The assistant looked at Isabella, then quickly bowed and exited, closing the door behind her.
"How dare you come here!" Isabella stood up, her knuckles white against the desk.
"This is my company!"
Seraphina walked slowly around the room, running her fingers over the expensive mahogany furniture.
"Is it really yours, Isabella?"
"Or did you just borrow it while I was kept in darkness?"
"You don't belong here!" Isabella spat.
"You are nothing but an orphan!"
Seraphina stopped right in front of Isabella's desk.
She leaned over, placing both hands on the smooth wood.
"That orphan holds 30 percent of the voting shares in this company."
Isabella laughed hysterically.
"You are insane! Father's shares were split between Mother, Julian, and me!"
"Father's original will was altered by Victoria," Seraphina said calmly.
"The real will was validated by the high court two hours ago."
"Father left his personal half of the business to his 'lost daughter'."
"Which means I am now the single largest individual shareholder."
Isabella felt the world tilt beneath her feet.
"No... that's impossible... Julian wouldn't allow this!"
"Julian was the one who handed over the original documents to the probate court this morning," Seraphina whispered with a chilling smile.
Isabella's breath hitched.
"Julian? Julian betrayed us?"
"Julian is a businessman, sister," Seraphina said, stepping closer.
"He knows when a ship is sinking."
"He chose to throw Victoria overboard to save himself."
"And what about me?" Isabella asked, her voice cracking with terror.
Seraphina reached out and gently touched the exact spot on Isabella's cheek where she had slapped her the night before.
Isabella flinched, but she was too frozen to move.
"You, my dear sister..." Seraphina whispered into her ear.
"Are going to pay for every single day I spent in that dark room."
Suddenly, the office door burst open.
Three security guards ran in, followed by Julian.
"Seraphina! Step away from her!" Julian commanded.
Seraphina stepped back smoothly, raising her hands in mock surrender.
"I was just congratulating my sister on her new role," Seraphina said lightly.
"What role?" Isabella cried out, looking at Julian.
"Julian, what is she talking about?!"
Julian looked down at the floor, unable to meet Isabella's eyes.
"Isabella... the board has held an emergency vote."
"Due to the public outrage and the legal charges against Mother..."
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"They have removed you from the board of directors."
"And they have assigned your executive position to Seraphina."
