Chapter 4 - The Digital Inferno
By eight o'clock Saturday morning, the internet was ablaze.
What Sloane Mercer had intended as a cruel viral stunt to boost her follower count had transformed into one of the largest corporate and social media scandals of the year.
I sat on the plush sofa of our penthouse apartment overlooking the Dallas skyline, wrapped in a warm cashmere sweater, sipping a cup of chamomile tea. Beside me, Daniel was reviewing the morning financial reports on his tablet.
On the large television screen mounted on the wall, the morning news anchor for CNBC was delivering an emergency update:
“Breaking News: Shares of Mercer Urban Development and Caldwell Capital have crashed by over forty-five percent in early pre-market trading following a catastrophic scandal involving their heirs. Last night at a high-end Dallas restaurant, Sloane Mercer and Evan Caldwell were captured on a live broadcast harassing a waitress—unaware that the woman was Grace Bennett, philanthropist and wife of billionaire investor Daniel Bennett.”
The news screen cut to the livestream footage. It showed Sloane laughing as she poured the Coke over my head, followed by the dramatic moment Daniel stepped into the room and shut down their entire billion-dollar contract.
“Bennett Global has officially severed all ties with both firms,” the reporter continued. “Sources confirm that major secondary lenders are already calling in their loans, plunging Mercer Urban and Caldwell Capital into immediate insolvency.”
My phone buzzed on the coffee table. It was a text from Mia.
Mia: Grace! You won't believe it! The restaurant group just fired Martin! And they sent an official letter to the entire staff declaring that you are invited back whenever you want, with full ownership shares of Harbor House if you accept! Everyone is cheering for you!
I smiled softly, setting the phone down.
Daniel looked over at me, setting his tablet aside and reaching out to take my hand. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”
“I’m fine, Daniel,” I answered truthfully. “Honestly, I feel relieved. For three years, I tried so hard to keep my life as a server completely separate from your world because I was afraid people would judge me or treat me differently. Yesterday proved that true character has nothing to do with wealth or titles.”
“You have more character in your pinky finger than the entire Mercer family combined,” Daniel said softly, bringing my hand to his lips.
Before I could reply, the intercom near the front entrance buzzed sharply.
Daniel frowned, pressing a button on his desk console. “Yes?”
“Mr. Bennett,” the front desk security guard reported nervously over the speaker. “I’m sorry to bother you, sir, but Richard Mercer, Thomas Caldwell, and their children are downstairs in the lobby. They are begging for five minutes with you and Mrs. Bennett. They say it’s a matter of life and death.”
May you like
Daniel’s expression went cold. He looked at me, leaving the choice entirely in my hands.
“Let them up,” I said quietly. “It’s time to finish this.”
