Chapter 4

Damian's POV

By the time the emergency board meeting started, my chair at the head of the table had already been removed.

The head of the conference table was empty.

I pushed the doors open. Everyone looked up, only to quickly avert their eyes.

My proxy stood by the projector screen, a stack of files in his hand.

I walked in, my face cold.

"Who authorized this meeting?"

The proxy looked up.

"Ms. Vance."

"Where is she?"

"Ms. Vance will not be attending."

I glared at him. "Tell her to get down here and face me."

The proxy opened a folder. "The meeting has officially begun. You are welcome to observe, Mr. Sterling, but you no longer hold voting rights."

The room was dead silent.

I let out a harsh laugh. "I founded this company."

"You are currently still listed as a registered partner," the proxy replied in a calm, robotic voice. "However, Ms. Vance is now the majority shareholder and primary creditor."

The screen lit up.

Shareholder restructuring records.

Debt transfer files.

Foreclosure triggers.

Page after page, the black ink nailed me to the wall.

I stepped forward, slamming my hands onto the table. "She did all of this behind my back! It's illegal!"

The proxy looked at the board members. "All documents were processed through legal proxy channels. The funding sources are fully verified, and the signatures are authentic."

"I never signed off on this!"

"Actually, you did."

The moment those words left his mouth, several board members lowered their heads.

I snapped my gaze toward the Director of Operations. His face was pale, and he refused to make eye contact.

The proxy continued reading.

"First item on the agenda: the immediate removal of Damian Sterling from all executive and managerial positions within Sterling Group."

My eyes flared. "You wouldn't dare."

"Second item: the freezing of all corporate assets under Damian Sterling's name."

"Say that again!"

"Third item: the initiation of a forensic audit to investigate all suspicious fund transfers over the last three years."

I snatched the documents from the table and tore them in half, throwing them into the air.

The white papers fluttered down like snow.

"I built this place!" I roared.

No one spoke.

I looked at their silent faces, my chest heaving.

These were the people who used to line up outside my office for a signature.

Who waited for my nod of approval.

Who called me Mr. Sterling with practiced reverence.

Today, they sat in their expensive chairs, watching a stranger kick me out of my own kingdom.

The proxy bent down and picked up the torn resolution.

"Mr. Sterling, the flow of capital is very clear."

My temple throbbed.

The proxy placed the paper back on the table. "Every agreement you signed carried Ms. Vance's financial backing."

"Shut up!"

"Including the initial round of funding, the bridge loans, the mortgage documents, and the VC debt agreement."

I lunged forward, grabbing the proxy by his collar.

The security guards stationed at the door immediately rushed in, pinning my arms behind my back.

Gasps echoed through the room.

I wrenched myself free from one guard and pointed a finger at the board. "If you sign this today, I will make sure every single one of you is fired tomorrow!"

Finally, one elderly director spoke up.

"Damian... the forensic audit team is already in the building."

The use of my first name felt like a physical blow.

I stared at him, and he slowly looked away.

"We have to protect ourselves."

The blood drained from my face.

Protect themselves.

I understood now.

Elena didn't need to show up.

She didn't need to yell.

She had simply fed the evidence into the corporate machine and let these greedy bastards tear me apart to save their own skins.

The proxy handed the final resolution to the secretary.

"All in favor?"

One hand went up.

Then another.

Then the entire table.

I stared at their raised hands, my fists clenching so hard they shook.

Years ago, when I took Elena to meet our very first investor, she had sat beside me and gently filled in every blank I left in the presentation.

The investor had said, Your wife is sharper than you, Damian.

I had laughed it off. She doesn't know anything about business. She's just here for moral support.

Elena had simply sorted her papers, saying nothing to defend herself.

Now, she didn't have to.

The entire boardroom was voting on her behalf.

"The resolution passes," the proxy announced, shutting the folder. "Mr. Sterling, please hand over your access badge and company seals."

I ripped the badge from my chest and slammed it onto the table.

"Tell Elena to come get them herself."

The proxy didn't move.

The guard took a step forward. "Mr. Sterling, please leave the premises."

I glared at him. "You're kicking me out?"

The guard's face remained entirely blank. "It's company policy."

Another guard grabbed my shoulder.

As they dragged me out, not a single person in that room stood up to stop them.

I struggled. "Let go of me!"

The employees in the hallway scrambled out of the way.

They dragged me past the executive suite.

The nameplate on my door hadn't even been changed yet.

I caught my reflection in the glass door. My suit was rumpled, my collar crooked, and my face looked like that of a defeated dog.

The elevator doors opened.

The guard ushered me inside. "Mr. Sterling, your personal belongings will be packed and sent to your registered address."

"Who gave you permission to touch my things?!"

The doors slid shut.

No one answered.

The wind outside the building was freezing.

I stood on the pavement, my phone buzzing incessantly in my pocket.

The screen lit up.

A text from Serena: "Damian, why hasn't my therapist's fee been paid yet? They said they'll cancel my appointment if we don't pay today."

I stared at it.

Another text popped up: "Are you still mad about Elena? She's just trying to control you. Don't let her get to you."

My thumb hovered over the screen.

After a long time, I locked the phone.

The corporate logo of Sterling Group loomed high above, cold and imposing.

For the first time in my life, I was standing on the outside.