Chapter 2: The Woman Behind the Empire
Chapter 2: The Woman Behind the Empire
The rain had not stopped by the time the black SUV reached the Escalante Group headquarters.
Mariana stepped inside without saying a word.
The attorneys were already waiting.
So were the company's senior executives.
No one looked surprised to see her.
Instead, every person in the room stood.
"Good evening, Chairwoman."
Mariana nodded.
"Has the board voted?"
Her chief legal counsel slid a folder across the table.
"Unanimously."
"The emergency succession clause has been activated."
At that exact moment, across town, Andrew's phone vibrated.
Bank Account Frozen.
A second notification appeared.
Corporate access revoked.
Then another.
Emergency Board Meeting—Attendance Required Immediately.
His confident smile slowly disappeared.
"What is this?"
He called his chief financial officer.
No answer.
His private banker.
Unavailable.
Then Brenda's phone rang.
She answered.
The color drained from her face.
"The penthouse..."
"What about it?" Andrew asked.
"It isn't yours."
"The title was never in your name."
Andrew frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Minutes later, he arrived at company headquarters.
Security stopped him at the entrance.
"I'm the CEO."
The guard remained polite.
"You were."
Andrew laughed.
"This is ridiculous."
The elevator doors opened.
Mariana stepped into the lobby.
She was no longer carrying the worn leather handbag.
She wore the same calm expression she had carried through years of insults.
Only now everyone around her addressed her differently.
"Good evening, Chairwoman."
Andrew stared.
"...Chairwoman?"
The boardroom doors opened.
Twelve directors stood as Mariana entered.
Andrew remained frozen outside.
One director finally spoke.
"Mr. Collins, your employment contract has been terminated."
"My contract?"
"You don't own the company?"
The chairman placed a thick document on the table.
"The company was never yours."
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"You were hired to run it."
Andrew's face turned white.
