For three weeks, the Vanguard building had been operating in a state of suspended animation. Since the sudden passing of the company’s patriarch, Richard Vance, Victor had practically moved into the CEO’s suite. He threw his weight around, firing loyalists, cutting benefits, and preparing to inherit his older brother’s multi-billion-dollar real estate empire. Derek was already measuring the corner office for new furniture.
They thought the reading of the will later that morning was just a legal formality.
At 10:00 AM sharp, the heavy mahogany doors of the executive boardroom swung open. The room was packed with the board of directors, high-priced lawyers, and Victor, who sat at the head of the table radiating smug entitlement.
Then, the murmurs stopped.
The man from the breakroom walked in.
He was still wearing the exact same gray maintenance uniform. The white stain from the creamer was still dried on his collar. But this time, he wasn’t alone. He was flanked by the top estate attorneys in the state.
Derek actually laughed out loud. “Security! How the hell did this guy get past the lobby? I literally just told you to get back to the basement.”
The man didn’t look at Derek. He walked straight to the opposite end of the long table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
The lead attorney cleared his throat, opening a sealed envelope. “Ladies and gentlemen of the board. As per the final, finalized trust of Mr. Richard Vance, the controlling 51% of Vanguard Holdings, along with the title of Chief Executive Officer, does not pass to his brother, Victor.”
Victor’s smirk vanished. His face drained of color.
“It passes,” the lawyer continued, “to his estranged eldest son from his first marriage. Marcus Vance.”
Marcus leaned forward, resting his elbows on the polished mahogany. He looked directly at Derek, then at Victor. The silence in the room was so heavy it felt like it could shatter glass.
“I wanted to see what kind of company my father left behind,” Marcus said, his voice echoing in the dead quiet. “I wanted to see how the people at the top treat the people at the bottom.” He touched the dried cream on his collar. “Now, I know.”