Chapter 6: The Board Meeting Storm
The morning sun cast long shadows across the Bong Food Industries headquarters as Adrian arrived two hours earlier than usual. The gleaming twenty-story building in the heart of the mountain city's business district stood as a testament to three generations of hard work and vision. Today, it would become a battlefield.
Uncle Suryo had been waiting in the parking garage, his military bearing more pronounced than usual. "Young Master, everything is in place. The private investigation team started their work at 5 AM. The board meeting room has been secured, and I've personally verified the audio-visual equipment."
"Any unusual activity from the family this morning?" Adrian asked as they walked toward the executive elevator.
"Your uncle left the house at dawn. Three cars with Jakarta license plates followed him here. My contact in building security says they've been in conference room B since 7 AM."
Adrian's expression remained calm, but the ring on his finger grew slightly warm. "They're moving faster than expected. Good—desperation breeds mistakes."
As the elevator climbed toward the executive floors, Adrian felt a familiar sensation. The ring was picking up thoughts from somewhere nearby, likely from the conference rooms above.
...the psychiatric evaluation report looks perfect. Dr. Hartono really outdid himself with the fabricated episodes of paranoid behavior...
...once Adrian's declared incompetent, the board will have no choice but to appoint temporary management. That's when we make our move...
...Bobi's already positioned his gang members around the building. If things go badly, we have contingency plans...
Adrian's jaw tightened, but his voice remained steady. "Uncle, change of plans. Before the board meeting, I want to make a stop at the legal department."
Twenty minutes later, Adrian sat across from Helena Santoso, the company's head counsel. The sharp-eyed woman in her forties had served the company for over a decade and had been one of his father's most trusted advisors.
"Helena, I need to ask you something confidentially," Adrian began. "If someone were to present forged medical documents to a corporate board in an attempt to have a CEO declared incompetent, what would the legal consequences be?"
Helena's eyes narrowed immediately. "That would constitute fraud, conspiracy, and possibly criminal impersonation of medical professionals. We're talking about serious felony charges with prison sentences of five to ten years."
"And if that same conspiracy involved planted evidence of financial mismanagement?"
"Corporate fraud, fiduciary breach, conspiracy to commit theft. The perpetrators could face decades in prison, especially if the amounts involved are substantial." Helena leaned forward. "Adrian, is there something specific I should know about?"
"I believe certain family members may be planning exactly such an action at today's board meeting. I need you to be prepared to document everything—every piece of evidence they present, every claim they make."
Helena's expression grew deadly serious. "If you're right, they're walking into a legal trap of their own making. Present fraudulent evidence to a corporate board, and they've just committed their crimes in front of witnesses with full documentation."
"Exactly. But I need one more thing from you."
"Name it."
"I want to temporarily transfer an additional 10% of shares to myself from the company's reserve holdings. As the majority shareholder, I have that right, correct?"
Helena nodded slowly. "Yes, but that would give you 61% of the company. That's not just majority control—that's absolute control. No combination of other shareholders could overrule you."
"Draw up the papers. I want them ready to execute the moment my uncle makes his move."
An hour before the board meeting, Adrian received a call that made his blood run cold.
"Young Master," Uncle Suryo's voice was tense. "I just received word from our security contact at the airport. Three men from Jakarta landed this morning—they're known associates of corrupt officials and legal fixers. They're being paid to be here."
Adrian felt the ring pulse with warmth as anger coursed through him. "They're bringing in ringers to stack the meeting."
"It gets worse. Bobi's gang members aren't just positioned around the building—they're inside. Building security says they have 'maintenance passes' for today."
Adrian closed his eyes, focusing on the dimensional space within the ring. The endless warehouse now contained dozens of duplicated items—bottles of water, energy bars, even some basic tools he'd experimented with. But more importantly, he'd discovered something else about the ring's abilities.
When he concentrated, he could sense the presence of other people within a certain radius, almost like a radar. And right now, he could sense hostile intentions surrounding the building like a net.
"Uncle, how many security personnel do we have on site?"
"Eight regular guards, plus the four specialists I brought in yesterday. Against what they're planning, it won't be enough."
Adrian made a decision that would have seemed impossible just days ago. "Uncle, I want you to quietly evacuate all non-essential personnel from the building. Tell them it's a security drill."
"Young Master, that's very unusual—"
"Trust me. And Uncle? Once the evacuation is complete, lock down the building. No one gets in or out without my explicit authorization."
The board meeting was scheduled to take place in the executive conference room on the twentieth floor. As Adrian entered the room precisely at 10 AM, he immediately sensed the trap that had been laid for him.
The usual twelve board members were present, but there were also six strangers in expensive suits positioned around the room. Uncle Asong sat at the far end of the table with a thick folder of documents, his expression a mixture of false sympathy and barely concealed triumph.
"Adrian, thank you for joining us," Uncle Asong said with mock warmth. "I know this meeting was called on short notice, but we have some very serious matters to discuss regarding the company's leadership."
Adrian took his seat at the head of the table—his father's chair—and surveyed the room with cold calculation. Through the ring's abilities, hostile thoughts hit him from multiple directions:
...the boy looks too confident. Hopefully the sedatives we slipped into his morning coffee will start working soon...
...once we present the psychiatric evaluation, the board will have no choice but to act...
...if he tries to fight this, the boys outside are ready to escort him out permanently...
Adrian's expression remained perfectly neutral, though inwardly he was amazed by the scope of their conspiracy. They'd even tried to drug him—though fortunately, he'd eaten only food prepared by Aunt Minah that morning.
"Before we begin," Adrian said calmly, "I'd like to introduce some additional attendees." He pressed a button on the conference table's control panel. "Please send them in."
The doors opened, and six people entered the room: Helena Santoso with a court stenographer, two federal investigators, a representative from the Financial Services Authority, and Uncle Suryo with a video recording system.
Uncle Asong's face went pale. "Adrian, what is the meaning of this?"
"The meaning, Uncle, is transparency," Adrian replied coolly. "If we're going to discuss matters of corporate governance and leadership competency, I want everything properly documented. Surely you have no objection to that?"
The strangers Uncle Asong had brought began shifting nervously in their seats. One of them, a thin man with nervous eyes, was thinking:
...this wasn't supposed to happen. We were told this would be a private family matter. Federal investigators? This could destroy everything...
"Now then," Adrian continued, "I believe you called this meeting to discuss some concerns about my leadership. Please, proceed."
Uncle Asong opened his folder with hands that trembled slightly. "Adrian, this is very difficult for all of us. But as your family, we have a responsibility to act when we see signs of... instability."
"Instability?" Adrian's voice carried just the right note of confused concern. "Could you be more specific?"
"Well, there have been reports of erratic behavior, poor business decisions, and concerning psychological symptoms." Uncle Asong pulled out what appeared to be a medical report. "In fact, we've had you evaluated by a qualified psychiatrist."
Helena Santoso immediately stood up. "I object. When was this evaluation conducted, and was my client informed of it?"
"This was done for Adrian's own good," Aunt Sari chimed in from her seat. "Family members can authorize medical evaluations when someone is clearly unwell."
One of the federal investigators leaned forward. "Ma'am, that's actually not accurate under current medical privacy laws. Could you provide the documentation authorizing this evaluation?"
As Uncle Asong fumbled with his papers, Adrian felt a surge of satisfaction. They were already beginning to incriminate themselves, and the meeting had barely started.
"Perhaps," Adrian said gently, "you could share the findings of this evaluation with everyone? I'm very curious to hear what this psychiatrist observed, considering I've never met with any mental health professional."
The room fell silent. Uncle Asong's face had gone from pale to ashen as he realized the trap he'd walked into.
"I... the doctor worked from detailed observations provided by family members and..."
"Family members?" Helena's voice was sharp as a blade. "Are you telling this board that you presented someone claiming to be a medical professional with secondhand observations and asked him to render a psychological diagnosis without ever examining the patient?"
"It's not... we didn't..."
Adrian watched his uncle crumble under the weight of his own conspiracy. But the best part was yet to come.
"Uncle, while we're discussing my supposed psychological instability, perhaps you could explain some of the interesting financial documents that were brought to my attention this morning?"
Adrian nodded to Helena, who produced a thick folder of her own.
"These are copies of bank records, wire transfers, and communication logs obtained through legal channels this morning," Helena announced. "They show systematic embezzlement from company accounts, unauthorized salary increases for certain family members, and payments to individuals for what appear to be illegal services."
Uncle Asong's face went completely white. "How did you—"
"How did I obtain legal evidence of criminal activity? Through proper legal channels, Uncle, unlike the fabricated psychiatric evaluation you're trying to present to this board."
The federal investigators were already taking notes, and Adrian could sense panic radiating from Uncle Asong's co-conspirators.
"Furthermore," Adrian continued relentlessly, "I've recently discovered that certain family members have been in contact with organized crime figures, specifically gang members known for intimidation and violence."
As if on cue, Uncle Suryo's radio crackled. "Sir, building security reports that several individuals with criminal records have been detained trying to access the executive floors with false maintenance credentials."
Adrian stood up slowly, and something in his demeanor made the entire room fall silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the board, what you've witnessed here today is a coordinated criminal conspiracy involving fraud, embezzlement, criminal impersonation of medical professionals, and conspiracy to commit corporate theft. The evidence has been presented to federal authorities, and arrests will be made."
Uncle Asong finally found his voice. "You can't do this! I'm family! Your father would never—"
"My father," Adrian's voice cut through the room like a blade, "would never have tolerated criminals masquerading as family members. My father built this company on integrity, hard work, and honest business practices. What you've attempted here today is the exact opposite of everything he stood for."
Adrian pulled out the share transfer documents Helena had prepared.
"As the majority shareholder of this company, I'm executing an immediate transfer to consolidate 61% ownership under my direct control. This prevents any future attempts at hostile takeovers by internal or external parties."
He signed the documents with swift, decisive strokes.
"Uncle Asong, Aunt Sari, Tono, and Bobi—you have one hour to remove your personal belongings from the family home. Your access to all company facilities, accounts, and benefits is terminated immediately. Legal proceedings against you will begin this afternoon."
The room erupted in chaos. Uncle Asong lunged forward, screaming about family loyalty and betrayal, but Uncle Suryo was already moving to intercept him.
"You ungrateful little—" Uncle Asong never finished the sentence as federal agents stepped forward to restrain him.
Through all the chaos, Adrian remained seated calmly at the head of the table, his expression serene despite the storm raging around him. The ring on his finger pulsed with warm satisfaction, and he could sense the thoughts of everyone in the room—shock from the legitimate board members, panic from the conspirators, and grim satisfaction from the law enforcement officials.
As Uncle Asong and his co-conspirators were led away in handcuffs, one of the federal investigators approached Adrian.
"Mr. Bong, we'll need detailed statements from you about the conspiracy, but I want you to know—the evidence you provided was comprehensive and damning. These people are looking at serious prison time."
Adrian nodded gravely. "They made their choices. I just ensured there were consequences."
After the room cleared of law enforcement and the arrested conspirators, Adrian found himself alone with the legitimate board members. The elderly businessman who had served as his father's close advisor for twenty years spoke up first.
"Adrian, I owe you an apology. We all knew something wasn't right about your uncle's recent behavior, but none of us imagined it was this extensive."
"Mr. Rahman, you have nothing to apologize for. They were very careful to hide their activities from the board."
Another board member, a woman who had helped build the company's distribution network, shook her head in amazement. "Your father would be proud of how you handled this situation. The maturity, the strategic thinking, the way you let them incriminate themselves—it was masterful."
As the board members filed out, expressing their support and renewed confidence in his leadership, Adrian allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction. The immediate threat had been neutralized, and his position as head of the company was now unassailable.
But as he stood alone in the conference room, looking out over the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Adrian's mind was already moving to larger concerns. The ring had given him incredible power, but it had also hinted at something far more important than corporate intrigue.
Those strange dreams, the whispers of global catastrophe, the sense that this was all just preparation for something much bigger—all of it lingered at the edges of his consciousness like a gathering storm.
His phone buzzed with a message from Mr. Qiao in Beijing: "Search teams deployed across twelve districts. First leads already coming in. Will find your little angel soon."
Adrian smiled, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the ring's power. Whatever greater challenges lay ahead, at least one small girl's life was about to change for the better.
Outside, storm clouds continued to gather over the mountain city, and Adrian couldn't shake the feeling that this victory over his family was just the opening move in a much larger game. The ring pulsed gently on his finger, as if agreeing with his assessment.
The real test was still coming.
But for today, justice had been served, and power had been consolidated in the right hands. Adrian Bong was no longer just the heir to a food empire—he was its undisputed ruler, armed with abilities that his enemies couldn't even imagine.
The war was won. Now it was time to prepare for whatever came next.