Chapter 10 - The Phoenix Rises
Robert's face went completely pale, all the color draining until he looked like a ghost. 'Margaret? Margaret doesn't have that kind of money...'
'She does now,' a sharp, commanding voice spoke from the doorway.
Robert turned around. Standing at the threshold was Margaret Hayes. She was dressed in an elegant ivory blazer and black trousers, her posture straight, her shoulders square. She looked ten years younger than she had at the winery, transformed by a fierce, newfound purpose.
Beside her stood two senior bankruptcy attorneys holding blue-bound legal files.
'Margaret...' Robert stammered, taking an involuntary step back. 'What are you doing?'
'I'm taking back what's mine, Robert,' Margaret said, her voice resonant and completely free of the panic she had felt two days ago. 'When we founded Hayes Capital thirty years ago, I insisted on a marital trust clause that granted me equal ownership of all primary holding equity in the event of marital infidelity or criminal misconduct. You were so busy trying to steal Nathan's company with your young mistress that you forgot about the prenuptial agreement WE signed in 1994.'
The lead attorney stepped forward, handing Robert a legal notice. 'Mr. Hayes, as of 9:00 AM today, Mrs. Hayes has exercised her legal right to seize voting control of Hayes Capital's assets. She has officially voted to terminate your position as Chairman, effective immediately.'
Robert stumbled back against the glass wall, his hands shaking as he stared at the papers. 'You... you can't do this to me! I built that firm!'
'We built it,' Margaret corrected coldly. 'And you tried to burn it down to pay off your dirty debts. You are banned from the premises of Hayes Capital and Apex Dynamics. Security will escort you off the property.'
Two armed guards stepped into the room, placing firm hands on Robert's shoulders.
'Nathan! Margaret! You can't leave me with nothing!' Robert screamed as he was dragged backward toward the elevator. 'I'm your father! I'm your husband!'
'You were,' Margaret said quietly, watching the elevator doors close on his terrified face.
Silence fell over the executive suite. Margaret turned to Nathan, exhaling a long, shuddering breath.
'He's gone, Nathan,' she said softly.
Nathan walked around his desk and pulled his mother into a tight embrace. 'That was incredible, Mom.'
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'It's not over, is it?' Margaret asked, looking up into his eyes. 'Charles Vance is still out there.'
Nathan's expression hardened. 'Vance thought he was using my family to break me. Now it's time to show him what happens when you poke the hive.'
