Taming My Sugar Mommy
Chapter 88: Edwin’s Fall

Chapter 88: Edwin’s Fall

The Ashworth boardroom was designed to intimidate—a long table of polished ebony, chairs upholstered in butter-soft leather, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of Manhattan. Isabella had commissioned the space herself, ensuring that her seat at the head of the table benefited from both the best view and the most flattering lighting.

Today, she had arrived early, reviewing her notes while the other board members filtered in. Jeremy, the CFO and her longtime supporter, gave her a subtle nod as he took his seat near her right hand. Edwin entered last, his confident stride betraying his anticipation. He nodded cordially to Isabella before taking his seat halfway down the table.

"Shall we begin?" Isabella suggested once everyone was settled. "I believe we have a full agenda today."

The meeting proceeded normally through the first few items—quarterly financials, the upcoming luxury events schedule, projections for the coming year. Isabella noted with satisfaction that Edwin seemed increasingly impatient, checking his watch repeatedly.

Finally, as they reached the "New Business" portion of the agenda, Edwin cleared his throat.

"Before we conclude," he said, his voice carrying a note of rehearsed gravity, "I feel compelled to bring a matter of serious concern to the board’s attention."

Isabella folded her hands on the table, her expression mildly curious. "Please, Edwin. The floor is yours."

Edwin tapped on his tablet, and the large screen at the end of the room displayed the Magellan documents—exactly as Isabella had anticipated.

"It has come to my attention," Edwin continued, gaining confidence, "that certain executive decisions are being made without proper board oversight. Specifically, investment opportunities being explored for personal gain rather than company benefit."

A murmur rippled through the board members. Isabella remained perfectly still, her expression unchanged.

"These documents," Edwin gestured to the screen, "show plans to divert company resources to secure a personal stake in an emerging market opportunity. This is precisely the kind of autocratic leadership that threatens Ashworth Luxury Events’ future."

Isabella let the silence stretch for a moment, aware that every eye in the room was on her.

"Is that all, Edwin?" she asked finally, her voice surprisingly gentle.

Edwin faltered slightly. "I... these documents speak for themselves. This breach of fiduciary duty—"

"Is entirely fabricated," Isabella finished for him. She tapped her own tablet, and the screen split to show a second set of documents. "These are the original files from our secure server, showing creation dates and digital signatures."

The board leaned forward, confusion evident on their faces.

"The documents you’re presenting," Isabella continued, "were created three days ago and planted on the executive server. We’ve been monitoring unauthorized access and detected multiple intrusions from your account, Edwin."

Edwin’s face paled. "That’s absurd. I was merely conducting due diligence—"

"Then perhaps you can explain this," Isabella interrupted, changing the display again. Now it showed a series of communications—emails, text messages, calendar invitations—all from Edwin’s accounts, documenting his efforts to undermine her leadership.

Isabella stood, commanding the room’s attention. "For the past two months, Edwin has been approaching board members individually, attempting to build support for what he calls a ’leadership restructuring.’ He has fabricated evidence, misrepresented company performance, and violated multiple provisions of his fiduciary duties to Ashworth."

She walked slowly around the table, her heels clicking sharply on the polished floor. "What Edwin failed to realize is that loyalty at Ashworth isn’t bought—it’s earned. Every person he approached reported his actions back to me."

Edwin’s expression collapsed from confidence to horror as he realized the extent of his miscalculation.

"I move for an immediate vote of no confidence in Edwin Harrington’s position on this board," Isabella stated, returning to her seat. "And a full investigation into his recent activities related to company matters."

The vote was unanimous, with Edwin himself too stunned to object. Security was called to escort him from the building, his access revoked on the spot.

As the board filed out at the meeting’s conclusion, Isabella remained seated, reviewing her notes with apparent calm. Only when the room had emptied did she allow herself a small, satisfied smile.

Liam entered through the side door, leaning against her desk with an appraising look. "That was cold."

Isabella glanced up, her smile widening fractionally. "You like it."

He chuckled, crossing his arms. "Didn’t say I didn’t."

Isabella closed her tablet, her expression becoming more serious. "We still have a problem. The forged financial documents that Seraphina received—they weren’t part of our plan."

"No," Liam agreed, his demeanor shifting to match hers. "Someone else is playing this game."

"And playing it well," Isabella added. "Those forgeries were sophisticated."

"Harrington?" Liam suggested, echoing Seraphina’s theory.

Isabella considered this, tapping her fingers thoughtfully against the ebony table. "Possibly. But there’s something we’re missing."

She stood, gathering her materials with practiced efficiency. "Edwin was a pawn, not the player. I want to know who’s really moving the pieces."

As they walked out together, Jeremy approached from the corridor, his expression carefully neutral.

"Impressive performance," he said, falling into step beside Isabella. "The board is completely behind you now."

Isabella offered him a measured smile. "Thank you for your support, Jeremy. I won’t forget it."

Jeremy nodded, his eyes briefly meeting Liam’s before he turned down a different hallway.

Once alone in her private elevator, Isabella’s satisfaction at Edwin’s fall was already fading, replaced by the familiar, razor-sharp focus that had carried her through countless corporate battles. Someone had targeted her, had tried to use Seraphina against her. Someone who knew the inner workings of Ashworth Luxury Events intimately.

"Have security double the monitoring on Harrington," she instructed Liam as the elevator descended. "And I want a complete audit of the executive accounts—who accessed what, when, and from where."

"And Seraphina?" Liam asked carefully.

Isabella’s expression revealed nothing. "We keep watching. Everyone is suspect until proven otherwise."

The elevator doors opened to the private garage, where her driver waited with the car door already open.

"Everyone," she repeated softly, her gaze distant as she contemplated her next move.