Chapter 4 - The Boardroom Hostile
Before Denise could process the order, Julian’s chief of staff, Marcus, entered through the front doors carrying a heavy leather document folio.
He handed the tablet directly to Julian, who scanned the digital contracts with casual disinterest.
"Marcus," Julian said aloud, "who owns the commercial master lease on this property?"
"Sterling Commercial Real Estate owns the building, sir," Marcus answered clearly, loud enough for every associate to hear.
"And who owns the controlling shares of the parent fashion conglomerate, Valmont Group?"
"You acquired fifty-one percent of their European parent company during the Paris debt restructuring last Tuesday," Marcus stated smoothly.
Denise’s knees buckled, and she had to grip the edge of a mahogany display table to keep from fainting onto the floor.
Vanessa’s face went from pale to ghostly white as she realized her stepfamily’s entire social standing was collapsing in real time.
Julian walked over to Denise, leaning down slightly so his words carved directly into her conscience.
"You told my wife that Maison Valmont does not require critiques from charity cases. As majority shareholder, I disagree."
"Mr. Sterling, please have mercy!" Denise begged, tears running freely through her expensive foundation.
"I have spent thirty years building this salon’s reputation!"
"You built an empire on arrogance and exclusion," Julian said, handing the tablet back to Marcus.
"Denise Dupont is terminated effective immediately. She is banned from entering any Sterling Commercial property in North America."
Denise began sobbing openly, collapsing onto a velvet chair as two building security guards moved in to take her master keys.
Julian turned his gaze toward Vanessa, who stood trembling like a leaf caught in an arctic blast.
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"And as for you, Miss Cole," Julian said, his eyes narrowing into slits of pure steel.
"I believe you hold a junior PR contract with our shipping logistics subsidiary. Consider that contract terminated as well."
