Chapter 17 - The Table Turns
Julian Vance stumbled backward, his face draining of all color as he stared at the men pouring out of the elevator. "No... that's impossible! Our digital firewall is impenetrable!"
"Your firewall was built by engineers you underpaid five years ago, Julian," I said, my voice ringing with cold, absolute authority as I walked past the stunned guards toward the floor-to-ceiling windows. With another tap on my tablet, the black armor plating rolled back, flooding the penthouse with the harsh, brilliant light of the afternoon sun.
Victor Vance gripped his ebony cane so hard his knuckles turned stark white. For the first time in decades, the undisputed king of European private equity looked like a cornered, defeated old man. He had tried to play a game of intimidation, forgetting that the orphan girl he had once ignored had spent ten years building an empire that swallowed predators for breakfast.
"You... you planned this from the beginning," Victor rasped, his breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps. "You knew about the merger trap."
"I didn't know you were foolish enough to spring it," I replied, turning back to face him with absolute, chilling indifference. "I came here today out of professional courtesy, expecting a civilized negotiation between global leaders. Instead, you chose the language of coercion. And in my world, those who try to trap a lion usually end up inside the cage themselves."
Marcus stepped forward, gesturing to the Aegis Zenith commanders who now completely controlled the penthouse exits. "Madam Chairman, the federal financial crimes division in Zurich has already been provided with the transaction ledgers connecting the Vanguard Consortium to illegal offshore shell accounts. The raid on their main data center is already underway."
Victor let out a low, defeated groan, his knees buckling slightly as he leaned heavily against the mahogany desk for support. Julian rushed to his father's side, glaring at me with unadulterated hatred.
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"You'll ruin us!" Julian snarled. "We'll fight you in every international court on the planet!"
"Fight with what money?" I asked quietly, offering a faint, pitying smile. "By the time the markets open tomorrow morning, Aegis Zenith will own eighty percent of your corporate debt. You won't have a courtroom left to stand in."
