Chapter 7 - THE SERVER WITH THE DECIDING VOTE.
Nathan demanded Sophie be removed from the vote because she lacked business education.
Elena agreed.
“You cannot hand a hotel empire to a girl who does not understand capital.”
Sophie looked around the ballroom.
“I understand that staff worked double shifts while executives stole the service fees. Apparently your education did not teach you that theft remains theft when accountants rename it.”
The applause began among the banquet workers, not the donors.
Richard raised one hand.
He did not want the moment turned into another performance.
He asked Sophie what she intended to do with the vote.
She said the worker-housing sale would be blocked, the service-fee accounts frozen, and employee representatives added to the board.
Nathan laughed.
“That will frighten investors.”
Sophie replied, “Workers have lived frightened for years. Investors can try it for one quarter.”
Elena called her vindictive.
Sophie’s response was quieter.
“Vindictive would be making you serve dinner on swollen feet while strangers decide whether your rent is deserved. I am only returning control.”
The emergency vote began.
Richard voted against Nathan.
Sophie cast Maria’s protected share.
The sale failed.
Nathan lost board authority.
Elena’s proxy was suspended.
For the first time, power moved away from the chandeliers and toward the people standing near the kitchen doors.
Then the sealed glass analysis returned.
The unknown liquid had not come from Elena’s vial.
May you like
The drop in the video had been harmless.
Something else had already been inside Richard’s glass.
