Chapter 3
"This is outrageous!" Richard finally snapped. He slammed his hand on the table. Water splashed out of the glasses. Keira, don't go too far.
"I'm your father. I built this company with my own blood and sweat. The shares you have, you only got them because you're a Foster."
He probably thought he was losing face in front of all his employees. Being walked all over by his own daughter.
He was just trying to roar his way back to some dignity.
I looked up at him. My eyes were calm. "Mr. Foster, let me set you straight on two things.
"First, the shares I hold, I bought them with real money. They have nothing to do with your family.
"Second, you did build this company. But now I'm the major shareholder. By corporate law, I have the right to fire the chairman."
I slapped a document on the table. "Sign it. Leave with some dignity, and maybe I'll set aside a pension for you."
Richard stared at the document. His hands shook uncontrollably. It was the removal order. Once he signed, he was out for good.
"I won't sign it." He tore the document to pieces. "I'm your father. How dare you do this to me? Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?
"I never should have brought you back. I should have let you rot in that nowhere town."
Finally, the truth came out. That was what he really thought.
Blood ties? Family love? All just empty words. To him, I was just a tool. Useful for a marriage alliance. Useless, then dead weight.
"Good." I clapped my hands.
The conference room door opened. Several people in uniforms walked in. The one in the lead was from the tax office.
The one in the lead said, "Mr. Foster, someone reported Foster Holdings for tax evasion. The amount is huge. Please come with us to help with the investigation."
Richard went limp in his chair. He stared at me in disbelief. "You... you reported me?"
I smiled. An innocent, harmless smile. "Mr. Foster, if you don't want anyone to know, don't do it in the first place. This is just the appetizer."
Richard was taken away. The conference room went completely silent.
The shareholders who had wanted to speak for Richard now shrank back. They wished they could disappear into the floor.
That was savage. I turned in my own father. The move sent a chill through everyone.
"Anyone else have a problem?" I looked around. No one dared to meet my eyes.
I went on, "Since no one does, the meeting's adjourned. And the HR manager stays."
The others fled the room like they'd been pardoned.
The HR manager was a middle-aged man with a bald spot. He kept wiping his sweat. "Ms... Ms. Foster, what do you need?"
I looked out the window at the city view. Tall buildings were everywhere. Traffic was streaming below.
I said, "Send out a notice. Estella is removed from every position she has in the company.
"Also, freeze all her expense reimbursement at the company. Including that so-called charity foundation of hers."
Estella's biggest pride was that charity foundation. It was her prop for pretending to be the sweet, kind-hearted beauty.
Every year, she funneled over a million dollars from the company, but the amount that actually went to charity probably wasn't even a fraction.
I cut off her money pipeline. I'd like to see how long this fake innocent can keep up her act.
*****
As I walked out of the company building, I got a call from Estella.
She was crying hard on the other end, barely able to breathe. "Keira, how could you do this to Dad? How can you be so cruel? Dad has a bad temper, but he did raise you..."
Oh, no. He never raised me.
Estella seemed to realize her mistake too. She paused for a second. "Anyway, he gave you life. Please go drop the charges, okay? If you just let Dad go, I'll do anything you say.
"I'll call off the engagement with Andrew. I'll give him back to you. Okay?"
I listened to this ridiculous deal.
Give Andrew back to me? That piece of trash. She thought he was a prize. Like I wanted him.
"Estella," I said into the phone. "You got one thing wrong. I never wanted that piece of trash Andrew.
"As for you? Your good days are officially on a countdown."