Chapter 19 - Echoes of the Old Guard
The digital display on the wall of the main conference room blinked green, signaling that the secure video feed across all regional branches of Voss Global Enterprises was fully active. On screens stretching from Milwaukee to St. Louis, local directors, senior logistics chiefs, and syndicate lieutenants sat in varying states of tense anticipation. They had heard whispers of Vance’s arrest, of the Zurich data purge, and most importantly, of the woman standing at Adrian Voss's right hand.
Emma stood at the head of the long glass table, her posture straight, the heavy platinum signet ring gleaming under the recessed lighting. Adrian sat a few paces back in the shadows of the executive gallery, observing her with his hands folded neatly over his lap. He had given her the floor; now she had to command it.
"Good morning, gentlemen," Emma said, her voice cutting cleanly through the hum of the audio system. "Let’s dispense with pleasantries. Over the last seventy-two hours, this organization underwent a thorough internal cleansing. Victor Vance is gone. His backchannels to external syndicates have been severed, and his assets have been absorbed back into the corporate fold."
A murmur rippled through the video feeds. A senior director from the St. Louis branch, a veteran named Thomas Gallo whose loyalty had always been transactional, leaned forward into his camera.
"With all due respect, Ms. Thorne," Gallo said, his voice dripping with condescension, "Vance was a pillar of our regional logistics for a decade. A sudden audit and a midnight arrest without the board's formal consent sets a dangerous precedent. Does Mr. Voss even know about this hostile corporate takeover of his own operations?"
Emma didn't blink. She didn't look back at Adrian for validation. Instead, she raised her hands, deliberately signing her opening response into the live camera feed for Adrian to see, while speaking aloud for the regional directors.
"Mr. Voss doesn't just know, Mr. Gallo," Emma signed and spoke simultaneously, her fingers moving with crisp authority. "He authorized it. And if you think a ten-year tenure excuses treason, your branch is next on the audit list."
May you like
Gallo’s face flushed a deep crimson on the monitor. He opened his mouth to retort, but a sudden, sharp cough from the background of his own screen silenced him. Adrian stepped out of the shadows just enough to be caught by the wide-angle lens, his pale gray eyes fixed dead on the St. Louis feed. The mere sight of him froze Gallo mid-sentence.
"The audit list," Emma continued smoothly, "starts today. Compliance is mandatory. Survival is optional."
