Chapter 254 254

Chapter 254 254
Maya

Sarah's expression didn't change. She just sat there, frozen, her eyes locked on mine through the screen with an intensity that could have cut glass.

"Maya," Sarah said finally, her voice flat and devoid of emotion. "You're alive."

"I am," I confirmed. "Margaret kept me in Los Angeles under armed guard for months. She wanted my shares in Ashtree, wanted to use them to take control of the company. Elias found me, got me out, and made sure Margaret couldn't hurt me or anyone else ever again."

"This is insane," Elliot said, his voice climbing higher. "You've been gone for months. Everyone thought you were dead. And now you just show up and expect us to—"

"I expect you to listen," I said, cutting him off smoothly. "Because here's what's going to happen. I'm taking back my shares. All of them. And I'm assuming the role of CEO."

The room erupted.

Evan shot to his feet, his chair scraping back with a harsh screech. "You can't be serious. You have no experience running a company this size. You were head of Sales, for god's sake, not executive leadership."

"I ran Sales," I agreed, my voice steady. "And I increased revenue by thirty-two percent in two years. I negotiated contracts with our three largest international clients and I restructured the entire department to cut overhead by eighteen percent without losing a single major account. So yes, Evan, I have experience. More than you do, considering you've never held an actual position at Ashtree beyond sitting on the board."

His face went red. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"I know exactly what I'm talking about," I said. "I also know that while I was being held captive, this board allowed Margaret to manipulate stock prices, spread false information to investors, and destabilize the company's reputation. So forgive me if I don't trust your judgment on what I'm capable of."

Elliot leaned forward, his hands flat on the table. "You can't just waltz back in here and take over. This company has a structure, protocols, a chain of command—"

"And I'm at the top of it," I interrupted. "I own the controlling interest. My shares, combined with Elias's, give me majority control. Which means I don't need your permission, Elliot. I'm informing you of what's going to happen."

"This is exactly what Margaret would do," Elliot snapped, his voice sharp and accusing. "You're just like her. A schemer. A manipulator. You disappear for months and then come back expecting us to hand you the keys to the kingdom—"

"Enough."

Elias's voice cut through the room like a blade and Elliot's mouth snapped shut immediately. The temperature in the study seemed to drop ten degrees and I could see the rage simmering just beneath Elias's calm exterior, the way his eyes had gone cold and flat and utterly merciless.

"You will not speak to my wife that way," Elias said, his voice dangerously quiet. "You will not compare her to the woman who kidnapped her, held her prisoner, and tried to kill her. And if you ever insult her again, Elliot, you will find yourself removed from this board so fast you won't have time to pack your office."

Elliot paled. His mouth opened, closed, opened again. "I didn't mean—"

"Yes, you did," Elias said. "And you'll apologize. Now."

Elliot's jaw worked and I could see the war playing out across his face, pride battling self-preservation. Finally, he looked at the camera, his expression tight and resentful.

"I apologize," he said, the words coming out stiff and forced. "That was out of line."

I nodded once, accepting it without comment, and turned my attention back to the rest of the board.

Sarah hadn't moved. She was still watching me with that same cold, calculating expression, her fingers steepled in front of her face.

"You intend to run Ashtree," she said finally. It wasn't a question.

"I do," I confirmed.

Sarah's laugh was short and bitter. "Absolutely not."

The room went silent again.

"I beg your pardon?" I said, keeping my voice level.

"You heard me," Sarah said, her voice hard as steel. "I will not allow you to take control of this company. I don't care what shares you own or what authority you think you have. You are not qualified to run Ashtree and I will not stand by and watch you destroy everything Paul built."

"Paul is dead," I said bluntly. "And with all due respect, Sarah, you don't get to allow or disallow anything. I own controlling interest. The decision has already been made."

"The decision can be challenged," Sarah shot back. "The board can vote to block your appointment. We can cite your lack of experience, your extended absence, your complete ignorance of the current financial situation—"

"Go ahead and try," I said. "But you won't have the votes. Elias controls his shares and he's backing me. That alone is enough to override any objections you might raise."

Sarah's eyes flashed and she leaned forward, her hands flat on the table. "Elias has been absent for months. He has no idea what this company needs right now. He's making an emotional decision based on personal loyalty, not sound business judgment."

"Elias made the right decision," I said. "And if you can't see that, Sarah, then maybe you're the one who doesn't understand what this company needs."

Sarah's face went white with fury. "How dare you. I have been on this board for thirty years. I've guided this company through recessions, hostile takeovers, market crashes. I've protected Ashtree when lesser companies would have crumbled. And you think you can lecture me about what this company needs?"

"I think you've been protecting your own interests," I said, my voice sharp. "I think you've been so focused on maintaining control and preserving the Sinclair legacy that you've forgotten Ashtree is a business, not a family heirloom. And I think you're terrified that someone outside your inner circle might actually do a better job than you have."