Chapter 7 - The Collapse of the Sheng Deal
The next forty-eight hours were a whirlwind of legal filings and corporate warfare.
With the evidence Justin found on Maya’s laptop,
we were able to prove a direct link between Kenneth and the Sheng Group.
It wasn't just trade secrets.
He was planning to facilitate a merger that would have essentially liquidated Rollins Global,
leaving thousands of employees without jobs.
I stood in the center of the boardroom,
the light of the city glowing behind me.
We were on a conference call with the CEO of the Sheng Group,
Mr. Chen.
"Mr. Chen,"
I said,
my voice steady and cold.
"I have the contracts Kenneth Rollins signed with you."
"I also have the evidence that these were signed without board approval."
"Which means they are legally void."
There was a long silence on the other end of the line.
"Mrs. Rollins,"
Chen said,
his voice smooth.
"We were under the impression that your husband had full authority."
"He had the authority of a thief,"
I replied.
"If you proceed with any attempt to use our IP,"
"we will file a multi-billion dollar lawsuit in every jurisdiction you operate in."
"Furthermore,"
"we will release the evidence of your company's involvement in industrial espionage to the SEC."
I could practically hear Chen's heart rate increasing through the phone.
"What is it you want?"
he asked.
"I want you to walk away,"
I said.
"I want you to dissolve the shell companies you set up with Maya."
"And I want a formal apology to our board."
"Do this,"
"and we might let you survive the fallout."
"Done,"
Chen said,
hanging up the phone.
The directors in the room broke out into spontaneous applause.
Thomas walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder.
"Your father would be proud, Sabrina,"
he said.
"You saved the company."
"I didn't do it for the company,"
I said,
looking at the stacks of paper on the table.
"I did it for the truth."
But the victory felt hollow.
Kenneth was still in the hospital,
fighting the legal charges.
Maya was out on bail,
hiding in a cheap motel.
And I was still childless,
recovering from years of being drugged.
I went back to the house in Cherry Hills that night.
I walked into the nursery we had decorated two years ago.
It was painted a soft yellow,
full of stuffed animals and hope.
I sat in the rocking chair and finally let the tears fall.
I cried for the babies I never had.
I cried for the woman I used to be.
And I cried for the betrayal that had shattered my world.
But as the sun began to rise,
I wiped my eyes.
The crying was over.
May you like
Now,
it was time for the final blow.
