“This is…” Arthur swallowed hard, his fingers trembling as he turned the page. “This is a debt-to-equity conversion notice.”

“Forty percent, to be exact,” I said.

The room went entirely silent, save for the rain drumming against the tall glass windows.

“Forty percent of your outstanding corporate debt,” I repeated. “As of nine o’clock this morning, Apex Media is the single largest creditor of the Bradford Group.”

Vivian stood up so fast her chair scraped loudly against the hardwood floor.

“That is impossible,” she said, her voice rising. “You run a boutique marketing firm. You do not have that kind of capital.”

“We are no longer boutique, Vivian,” I said. “And our institutional backers were more than happy to fund the acquisition once they saw your Q3 projections.”

I looked at Garrett, whose face was a mask of pale confusion.

“I do not want your settlement,” I said. “I am here to tell you that I am restructuring your board.”

Grandfather Bradford let out a long, slow breath.

“You played us,” the old man whispered.

“I protected my sons,” I replied.