"Our investigation reveals that Mr. Stephens has transferred a total of eighty-six million dollars to Ms. Stacy Jenner during his marriage—funds derived entirely from Ms. Sullivan's pre-marital assets. Last year alone, thirty million was funneled into Ms. Jenner's overseas accounts to purchase luxury goods and a private villa."
"Ms. Sullivan intends to pursue full legal recovery of these assets."
Murmurs rippled through the room. Board members flipped through the documents, their expressions darkening as they absorbed the staggering figures. Someone muttered under their breath, "A parasite eating the company from the inside."
Duke shot to his feet, trembling with rage. "That's my money! I can transfer it to whoever I want—it's none of your business!"
"Your money?" I arched an eyebrow and hurled a share authorization agreement at his face.
"Did you forget about this, Duke?"
I let the silence stretch before continuing. "Back when we were starting out, you sweet-talked me into selling you my shares so you could 'build your dream.' But you seem to have forgotten what the contract clearly states: those funds were designated specifically for establishing a new company."
My gaze turned glacial.
"In other words, EmpireStar's entire initial capital came from me. I am the true owner of this company." I let each word land like a verdict. "So tell me—by what authority do you think you can transfer shares to your mistress?"
As the evidence piled up before him, Duke's face darkened like a sky before a storm.
Thirty years. He'd worked so hard to shed the label of a man who'd married up, convinced himself he'd built this billion-dollar empire on his own merit.
He'd forgotten one crucial detail: from the very first dollar to the last, it had always been mine. And buried in that contract was a single clause specifying the purpose of those funds—to establish EmpireStar Group.
I had Uncle Victor to thank for that clause—an old friend of my father's, he'd insisted on adding it.
At the time, I'd worried Duke might take it the wrong way. I hadn't wanted to include such a defensive provision; after all, I believed married couples should trust each other.
Uncle Victor had only said one thing:
"If he truly loves you, one clause won't make him angry—unless his intentions were never pure to begin with."