The shareholders gathered.
Media waited outside.
Investors watched live.
Adrian stood confident at the podium.
"Today," he began smoothly, "we correct a decade of mismanagement."
Ethan entered the room slowly.
Not fully recovered.
But present.
Murmurs spread.
Adrian smiled faintly. "Persistent as ever."
The voting began electronically.
Percentages rising on the screen.
40%… 48%… 51%…
Adrian was about to win majority control.
Then—
A final block of shares appeared.
12%.
Transferred.
To Ava.
Gasps filled the room.
Adrian turned sharply.
"What did you do?"
Ava stepped forward.
"My father never sold all his shares."
Silence crushed the air.
"I inherited the remainder."
The final count displayed.
Adrian: 49%
Ava + Ethan: 51%
The room erupted.
Adrian stared at her.
Not angry.
Impressed.
"You really are dangerous."
Ava met his gaze.
"I learned from the best."
And this time
Adrian didn't smile.