Chapter 7 - The Desperate Strike
The rain was pouring hard over Manhattan, drumming against the heavy glass windows of the Vance Tower lobby.
When Alexander and Ava stepped out of the private elevator, they were met with a scene of total chaos.
Damian Cross stood near the marble front desk, looking like a ghost of his former self. His hair was wild and damp, his expensive suit was wrinkled and stained, and his eyes were bloodshot. Two heavy security guards held him by the arms, restraining him as he thrashed around wildly.
"Let go of me!" Damian screamed, his voice echoey in the high-ceilinged lobby. "Ava! Ava, I know you're here!"
Ava stepped forward, Alexander walking right beside her, his hand resting reassuringly against her lower back.
"Damian," Ava said, her voice dripping with pity. "Look at yourself. Stop making a fool out of yourself."
Damian stopped thrashing and locked his bloodshot eyes onto her. A tragic, desperate laugh escaped his lips.
"Ava... baby..." Damian choked out, his voice cracking with emotion. "Please... you have to tell him to stop! Sterling North fired me! Victoria kicked me out of her apartment! I have nothing left, Ava! Nothing!"
"You did this to yourself, Damian," Ava said coldly. "You traded everything we had for money and status. You wanted this world. How does it feel?"
"I made a mistake!" Damian yelled, tears streaming down his rain-soaked face. "I was blind, Ava! Victoria meant nothing to me! I only thought about you! Every single day, I thought about you!"
Alexander took a slow step forward, towering over Damian. "You're lying, Cross. And you're trespassing. Leave now before I have the police arrest you."
"Shut up, Vance!" Damian snarled, his expression turning ugly and wild. He thrust his hand into his coat pocket.
The security guards moved instantly, grabbing his arms tighter, but Damian pulled out a thick yellow envelope and slammed it against the marble desk.
"You think you've won, Vance?!" Damian laughed hysterically. "I have the financial records from Bellmere Events! Ava was working there when your investment firm bought them out last year! I have proof that you started transferring funds into her name months before you claim you met her! You're using her for insider trading! If I send this to the SEC, you'll both be going to federal prison!"
Ava’s heart dropped. She looked at Alexander in sheer panic. "Alexander... what is he talking about?"
Alexander didn't flinch. He didn't blink. He looked at the yellow envelope on the desk, then slowly turned his head to look Damian straight in the eye.
A cold, terrifying smile spread across Alexander’s face.
"Is that your big move, Damian?" Alexander asked softly.
He reached into his pocket, pulled out his own phone, and tapped the screen twice before holding it up for Damian to see.
"What... what is that?" Damian stammered, his sudden bravado wavering.
"That," Alexander said calmly, "is the live footage from the private server at Sterling North Capital. The server you hacked into two hours ago using your old employee credentials to steal confidential company files."
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Damian’s face went completely white.
"Did you really think I didn't know you were tracking my firm's records?" Alexander asked, his voice icy and calm. "I set that trap for you three weeks ago. The files in that envelope are completely fake. But your illegal hack into a secure financial server? That is very real. The FBI is waiting for you outside right now."
