The emergency board meeting was packed. Arthur Sterling sat at the head of the table, not in the Chairman’s seat, but close enough to cast a shadow over it. He looked immaculate, a shark in a bespoke suit.
“The numbers are irrefutable,” Arthur announced, gesturing to the plummeting stock graph on the screen. “Croft Enterprises is bleeding. The CEO is over-leveraged and distracted by personal scandals. As the majority holder of the outstanding debt, I am moving for an immediate vote of no confidence and a restructuring of ownership.”
The board members murmured. They were terrified of the volatility.
“All in favor?” Arthur asked, a smug smile playing on his lips.
“One moment.”
The doors swung open. William Croft walked in. He wasn’t running; he was strolling. He placed a single sheet of paper on the table in front of the board secretary.
“I believe you’ll find the liquidity issue has been resolved,” William said coolly. “As of ten minutes ago, a private investor purchased the outstanding float. The stock price has stabilized at forty-five dollars a share.”
Arthur’s smile faltered. He snatched the paper. “Who? Who has that kind of capital on such short notice?”
William leaned in, his voice low enough that only Arthur could hear. “Someone you underestimated. Someone you thought you could disown.”
Arthur looked at the signature on the buy order: *J. Sterling.*
His face turned a violent shade of red. He had been beaten with his own money.
“The hostile takeover is dead, Arthur,” William announced to the room. “Please vacate the premises. You are trespassing.”
Arthur stood up, buttoning his jacket with trembling fingers. He looked at William with pure hatred. “You think you’ve won, boy? You’ve only bought yourself time.”