Chapter 10: Playing with fire.

ISADORA'S POV

I watched the gunman coming close to me.

If I did not duck beneath the gunman's raised arm right now, the bullet meant for my head would end my life on these concrete stairs.

Immedietly, I drove my weight into the guard on my right, shoving his body directly into the path of the hitman.

The guard stumbled forward, colliding with the shooter as a deafening gun report echoed through the stairwell.

I lunged toward the wall, grabbed the red emergency alarm lever with both hands, and pulled it down with all my strength.

Then the loud sirens blared through the building instantly, and water poured down from the ceiling sprinklers overhead.

The magnetic locks on the emergency doors clicked open all at once, releasing a wave of panicked office workers into the stairwell.

I pushed my way through the fleeing crowd, ducking my head down as the guards shouted into their radios behind me.

I wiped cold water from my eyes, knowing that running out into the street is meant getting hunted down in the dark.

I made the choice to turn around, taking the stairs upward toward the third floor where the press was gathered.

I knew my father and Everett could get me outside, but definitely they would not touch me in front of live news cameras.

I pushed through the double glass doors of the auditorium, stepping directly onto the brightly lit stage.

"Isadora, what is the meaning of this interruption?" Peter asked, rising from his chair as bright camera flashes filled the room.

I walked straight toward the podium, pulling my soaked copy of the marriage contract from inside my jacket as I held the microphone to the surprise of the crowd.

"I am here as a primary shareholder to exercise my voting rights," I said, placing the damp paper flat on the main desk.

Everett Ossorio leaned forward in his seat, signaling his security team with a quick wave of his hand.

"This meeting is private, and you are trespassing on corporate property," 

Everett warned, keeping his voice quiet for the microphones.

"My marriage contract gives me twenty percent of the voting stock, and no court paper can revoke that without my consent," I replied, pressing my hand over the signature line.

Then the reporters in the front row leaned forward, recording every word as the live broadcast continued across the country.

Everett glared at me, realizing he could not order his men to drag me out without tanking the company stock on national television.

And Rosalind stood up from her seat beside my father, taking a shaky step toward the front of the stage as she clutched her chest with both hands, letting out a soft sob that echoed clearly through the stage microphones.

"Please, Isadora, stop doing this to our family," Rosalind wept, staggering sideways so Peter had to catch her arm.

"Do not pretend to be the victim here, Rosalind," I said, holding my ground despite the gasps from the audience.

"I have spent five years in a medical facility because of your constant attacks, and I cannot take any more of this stress," Rosalind cried, dabbing her eyes with a white tissue.

The board members whispered among themselves, looking at me with disgust as Rosalind played her fragile role.

"As Chair of this board, I call an immediate emergency vote to strip Isadora of her voting privileges," Everett announced, raising his right hand high.

"I second the motion," Peter said immediately, raising his hand alongside Everett.

I stood alone on the lit stage, watching the board members raise their hands one by one to vote against me.

"The motion fails because I am voting my family shares against it," Rafael said rather, stepping up to the side microphone to everyone's surprise.

Everett snapped his head toward her son, his eyes widening with pure rage.

"What are you doing, Rafael?" Everett demanded, dropping his hand onto the wood table.

"I am exercising my independent right as Vice President to block this vote," Rafael answered, looking straight at his mother.

"You do not have the authority to override my decision," Everett said, her voice shaking with anger.

"I hold fifteen percent of the voting shares, and combined with Isadora’s stock, you do not have the majority needed to remove her," Rafael explained, turning to face the room of reporters.

Rosalind stopped her crying instantly, staring at Rafael with total shock on her pale face.

I looked at Rafael, unable to understand why the man who had handed my papers over hours ago was now taking my side.

I realized then that he was not saving me out of love; he was using my legal shares to strip power from his own mother.

He had betrayed me to get what he wanted, and now he was betraying Everett to take control of the entire empire for himself.

"This board meeting is officially adjourned," Everett shouted, slamming her leather binder shut on the table as the reporters rushed forward toward the stage, shouting questions and the board members argued openly among themselves.

I backed away from the podium, keeping my eyes on Rafael as he walked toward the exit without looking back at me.

I had survived the night and reclaimed my seat, but I had just stepped directly into a three-way war with three people who wanted me dead.