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The Security Guard Blocked Me from Entering, Unaware My Name Was on the Building’s Deed

Chapter 5

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Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over Central Park, veiled in gray fog. Arthur Collins sat on the very edge of an Italian leather chair, his fingers drumming erratically against his knee. Across the table, Evelyn sat with an open leather portfolio containing the deed of sale, the corporate registry certificates, and the executive decrees signed by her father’s legal team.Alongside her sat Marcus Vance, Carter Holdings' head of corporate risk and compliance, who had arrived twenty minutes after Evelyn’s call. Marcus was a quiet man in his late forties with rimless spectacles and a penchant for ruthless forensic auditing."Let’s begin with the incident downstairs, Mr. Collins," Evelyn said, sliding a pen across the blotter. "The guard at the door—Mr. Halloway, correct?""Yes, Ms. Carter," Collins choked out. "He... he was contracted through an external firm, Apex Premier Security. The previous CEO, Mr. Sterling III, instituted an informal 'client screening protocol' two years ago. The goal was to preserve the atmosphere of exclusivity for our high-net-worth VIPs.""Screening protocol?" Evelyn scoffed quietly. "You mean profiling based on attire, demographics, and superficial arrogance. Do you know what the net profit margin was for this location last quarter, Arthur?"Collins cleared his throat. "We were down approximately seven percent year-over-year...""Fourteen point two percent," Marcus corrected flatly without looking up from his tablet. "Foot traffic has collapsed by nearly forty percent across all European and North American flagships. You've alienated every rising professional, every quiet entrepreneur, and every ordinary citizen who saves for months to purchase a graduation gift or wedding band. You turned a prestigious heritage brand into an empty fortress for insecure snobs.""I was only executing the board's mandates!" Collins pleaded."The board that bankrupted the firm and begged my father to rescue them from Chapter 11?" Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "That board no longer exists. Carter Holdings owns one hundred percent of the equity."She paused, leaning forward. Her eyes narrowed."Now, tell me about Mrs. Eleanor Langford. Why was she so certain my father had promised her that I would never set foot inside this store?"Collins’s eyes darted toward the closed door of the boardroom. He swallowed, visibly terrified."Ms. Carter... that... that is not my place to discuss. That involves private arrangements made at the executive shareholder level before the buyout.""Marcus," Evelyn said softly.
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The Security Guard Blocked Me from Entering, Unaware My Name Was on the Building’s Deed

7 Part