Chapter 207

Nina's POV

As he struggled against him, shouting, "Get your hands off me! Do you know who my father is? You'll all be looking for jobs by tomorrow!"

I picked up my phone, ready to call security. "Look at you - acting like some entitled brat throwing a tantrum. One more outburst like this, and I'll have you escorted out of the building permanently."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Watch me. Get him out of my office," I ordered.

Dad chose that moment to walk in. "Let him go."

Out of what little respect I still had for him, I nodded to the assistant. Oliver immediately tried to charge me again, but Dad grabbed his sleeve, snapping, "Enough! You're making us look like amateurs!"

I smirked, watching Oliver instantly back down - the self-proclaimed prince of Sinclair, still terrified of daddy.

Dad switched to his negotiation voice. "Nina, we can structure a deal here. Return the shares, maintain the family harmony. We'll forget this morning ever happened."

I could barely hold back my laughter. "Dad, I finally understand why Serena hates our family so much. We truly are despicable, aren't we?"

Lawrence's face darkened with anger.

"I really don't know how you have the audacity to demand I give up my shares, and then magnanimously offer to 'let bygones be bygones.' Do you think I need your forgiveness? I didn't fight my way to the CEO position to keep playing your games!"

I let out a bitter laugh. "Don't blame me for showing my true colors now. You pushed me to this point. Oliver is completely incompetent, yet you protect him at every turn. I've done so much for this family, but you never even saw me. Did you really expect me to work under Oliver forever? Who do you think you are - royalty?"

"Nina, that's enough! I'm still your father, and I-"

"Save it. The way you treated Serena showed me exactly how much 'family' means to you. You only care about your own interests. The moment anyone threatens them, you turn ruthless. You did it to Serena, and you'd do the same to me. I should thank Serena, really - she showed me the Sinclairs' true nature. That's what helped me climb to the top!"

"You only have one percent more shares than me," Lawrence snarled. "I can acquire more shares anytime. Do you really think you can stay on top for long?"

"Let me break it down for you," I smirked. "Serena owns ten percent, and the other board members have nine. Serena will never give you a single share - thanks to Grandmother publicly declaring we'd never ask for Serena's help. You sealed your own fate there. As for the other nine percent - if they were available, don't you think I would have bought them already?"

"You-!" Lawrence's veins bulged with rage.

He never imagined his trusted daughter would outmaneuver him like this.

"You brought this on yourself," I said coldly. "If you had shown even a shred of decency... Dad, if there's nothing else, take your precious son and leave. I have work to do."

"Nina, are you sure you want to go this far?" Lawrence tried threatening me one last time.

I didn't even bother acknowledging his empty threats.

As he turned to leave, I remembered something. "Oh, and Dad? Since you're no longer CEO, I'll have your office cleared out. I'll be moving in there. Feel free to pick any other office you'd like."

Lawrence's face turned ashen with fury as he stormed out, Oliver scurrying after him like a lost puppy.

Beatrice's POV

This morning's journal headline about Nina taking control of Sinclair Group has become the talk of Manhattan's social circles. Who would have thought that Nina, who always played the perfect debutante, would outmaneuver my son? My blood practically boiling.

The most-shared post suggests that "regardless of the circumstances, the Sinclair women are proving to be exceptional leaders," praising both Nina and Serena. How can I stomach this humiliation when my son has lost his position at Sinclair Group and become the laughingstock?

I can feel my blood pressure spiking. "After everything I've done for Nina, sending her to the ivy, getting her into all the right social circles - she turns out to be nothing but a snake! The way she's been manipulating the board behind our backs... I could just..."

I turn to Angela, my voice sharp. "This is your daughter's doing. What happened to all those etiquette classes and finishing school values you supposedly instilled in her?"

Angela puts on her victim face. "Mother, I had no idea Nina would turn out like this. You know how sweet she's always been..."

Her act only infuriates me more. "Oh, spare me the crocodile tears - I've had enough. Is this where Nina learned it from? Playing the innocent socialite while plotting like a corporate raider beneath?"

Angela continues her defense. "That's not true! Everything I've done has been for this family's legacy. I gave up my career to focus on raising the next generation of Sinclairs. Have you forgotten all that?"

I'm about to continue when Lawrence suddenly barks. "For God's sake, enough! As if the board meeting wasn't stressful enough! You two sound like a reality TV show - this isn't 'Real Housewives of Manhattan'!"

After an uncomfortable silence, I carefully ask. "Lawrence, darling, what's our strategy here? We can't let Nina turn this into her own millennial takeover story."

I press further. "Nina only has one percent more voting shares. Can't we have our people at Morgan Smith arrange a buyout?"

Lawrence's face darkens. "The other board members hold nine percent. I've had talked them. No matter what figure I float, they won't sell. These are legacy shares, held since the company's IPO. They don't need the cash - it's about tradition."

Suddenly, I remember. "Didn't you give Serena ten percent of the shares?"

This sets Lawrence off completely. He shouts. "Don't even start on that! If you hadn't caused that scene with Serena in front of the entire social scene, would I have had to give up ten percent to keep her from pressing charges?!"

I try to explain, but he continues. "And then you had to go and trash her to the media, announcing that the Sinclairs would never need her help? At your age, you still don't understand how we works!"

My face flushes. "How dare you! Lawrence Sinclair, I'm your mother - what would your father say if he could see you now?"

"If you weren't my mother, you'd be out of this house faster than last season's Prada! After all these years of letting you enjoy the family's position..."

I'm so angry my eyes are red with tears. I've never been treated like this before. My own son, whom I raised with my own hands, actually dares to speak to me this way today.

As Lawrence kicks over the crystal glass on the coffee table and storms out, my grandson Oliver adds. "Grandmother, Dad's right. You're being impossible."

I'm shaking with rage. Even my beloved grandson treats me this way. "The entitlement of this generation!"

Angela was still pretending to be caring as she comforted me before saying, "Actually, Mother, there might be a way to handle the Serena situation."

I looked at Angela intently. "What do you mean?"

"Serena is still part of the Sinclair family after all. Her ten percent shareholding is essentially useless to her-wouldn't it be better as cash?" Angela suggested. "We just need to give her a graceful exit. You publicly denounced her and cut her ties with the Sinclair family in front of the media. If you could just retract that statement, tell the media it was said in the heat of the moment, and show her some kindness, she might be willing to sell her shares back to us."

"Angela, are you trying to drive me to my grave?" My anger peaked. "Do you expect me, Beatrice Sinclair, to take back my own words? That would be utterly humiliating!"

"But we're out of options now. You've seen how determined Nina is. None of us can convince her otherwise. As her mother, even I want to teach her a lesson, but I'm powerless. The only solution is for you to swallow your pride and ask Serena." Angela continued.

"I won't do it. I would rather die than beg Serena!" The mere thought of such a demeaning act made my blood boil.

"Then we'll have no choice but to watch Sinclair Group fall completely into Nina's hands." Angela sighed with feigned resignation.

She started to stand up to leave.

"Wait." I gritted my teeth, knowing full well that I bore the greatest responsibility for this mess. "I'll call Serena."

"She won't answer your calls. If you're truly sincere about this, I suggest you meet her in person. It would show more genuine intent," Angela advised.