Chapter 11 - A King’s Rage
The live broadcast of Della Marsh’s statement sent shockwaves across the country. Within minutes, the internet exploded with support for Della, while Liam’s legal team scrambled to control the massive fallout.
However, inside the grand board room of the Calloway Tower at two o'clock that afternoon, a different war was being waged.
The room was filled with twelve elderly board members, multi-billionaire investors, and syndicate elders. At the head of the long mahogany table sat Julian Calloway, smiling smugly as he flipped through financial documents.
"Gentlemen," Julian announced smoothly to the room. "Royce’s personal life has become an unacceptable liability. Public scandal, police wellness checks at the family estate, and conflict with federal authorities! He is unfit to remain Chief Executive of the Calloway Group. I move for an immediate vote to strip him of his executive authority!"
Several elderly board members murmured in agreement, looking uneasy.
"A compelling speech, Julian," a deep voice boomed from the doorway.
The heavy double doors of the boardroom swung open.
Royce walked inside, unhurried, wearing a bespoke black suit, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. Behind him walked Marcus, carrying a heavy leather briefcase.
Julian’s smile faltered slightly, but he quickly maintained his arrogant posture. "Royce. You're late. But it doesn't matter. The board is already voting."
"The board cannot vote without the Chairman present," Royce said calmly, walking to the head of the table and pulling out the massive leather armchair. He didn't sit; he simply rested his hands on the carved backrest, leaning forward slightly.
"You're facing a public crisis, Royce!" Julian snapped, standing up. "That girl—that waitress—is dragging our family name through the mud! The biological father is taking us to court!"
Royce looked at Julian with quiet, terrifying amusement. "Is he, Julian? Or are you taking me to court?"
Julian froze. "What are you talking about?"
Royce nodded to Marcus. Marcus opened the briefcase and tossed twelve thick blue folders onto the table, sliding one in front of every board member.
"Page three, gentlemen," Royce announced smoothly. "You will find bank transfer records from an offshore account in the Cayman Islands registered under Julian Calloway’s private foundation. Three days ago, five hundred thousand dollars was transferred directly from that account into a newly opened bank account belonging to Liam Vance."
The board members gasped, hurriedly flipping open the folders!
"This is a lie! It's forged!" Julian shouted, his face flushing crimson.
"Page seven," Royce continued, ignoring Julian’s outburst. "Audio recordings of phone calls between Julian Calloway and Liam Vance, orchestrated in a private hotel room in the Financial District. Julian promised Liam a million dollars and safe passage out of the country if he lied on national television about Della being held hostage."
Julian’s breath hitched. He looked around the table and saw the expressions of absolute disgust and rage on the faces of the senior board members.
"You tried to use a pregnant woman and an innocent child to execute a hostile takeover of my company," Royce said, his voice dropping to a low, lethal murmur that chilled everyone in the room. "You brought dishonor to the Calloway name."
"Royce... listen to me..." Julian stammered, backing away toward the window as two massive Calloway security guards stepped up behind him. "We're family! We're blood! You can't do this to your own cousin!"
"Family?" Royce scoffed, his dark eyes burning like hot coal. "My father showed your father mercy twenty years ago, and your father betrayed him. I promised myself I would never make the same mistake."
Royce turned to the board members. "All those in favor of immediately stripping Julian Calloway of his shares, his executive position, and handing him over to federal authorities for corporate fraud and extortion?"
Every single hand at the table went up instantly.
"Motion passed," Royce said softly.
"No! Royce, please! You can't do this!" Julian screamed as the security guards seized his arms, dragging him kicking and screaming out of the boardroom! "I'll kill you, Calloway! I'll kill that maid and her bastard child!"
The doors slammed shut, silencing Julian’s frantic screams.
Royce stood at the head of the table, calmly adjusting his cuffs. He looked at the shaken board members. "Meeting adjourned, gentlemen. Return to your work."
Ten minutes later, Royce stepped into his private penthouse office overlooking the city. Marcus walked in behind him, looking satisfied.
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"Julian is in police custody, Boss," Marcus reported. "And our team just picked up Liam near the airport trying to board a flight to Mexico with a fake passport. He's currently sitting in our private holding facility."
Royce stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out over the sprawling city. "Bring Liam to me. It's time to end this lie once and for all."
