Chapter 2: Three Minutes Earlier
Victor frowned.
The confidence on his face cracked for the first time.
"What did you just say?"
I lowered my wrist and looked directly into his eyes.
"I said your empire died three minutes ago."
His men laughed, but Victor didn't. He reached for his phone, expecting another smug smile from one of his executives.
Instead, the screen exploded with notifications.
Emergency Board Meeting.
Federal Asset Freeze Authorized.
Trading Suspended Effective Immediately.
His smile faded.
"What is this?"
Another alert appeared before he could open the first.
Every domestic bank account under Hale Industries had been frozen.
Every international transfer had failed.
Every offshore subsidiary was suddenly under investigation.
Victor looked back at me, trying to hide the fear beginning to rise inside him.
"You did this?"
"No," I answered calmly.
"You did."
His face twisted with confusion.
I nodded toward the tiny camera hidden beneath my jacket.
"For the last eighteen minutes you've confessed to kidnapping your wife... stealing her inheritance... threatening murder... and illegally imprisoning a shareholder."
His breathing became uneven.
"That feed isn't private."
I watched the realization spread across his face.
"It's broadcasting live."
His head snapped toward the warehouse ceiling.
"To who?"
"Federal investigators."
I paused.
"Your investors."
Another pause.
"And every member of your emergency board."
One of Victor's guards suddenly lowered his pistol.
His phone vibrated.
He looked at the message.
Then he slowly stepped away from Victor.
"I'm out," he whispered.
Victor stared.
"What are you doing?"
The guard swallowed.
"My family's name is attached to yours."
Another phone buzzed.
Then another.
Within seconds every armed man inside the warehouse had received the same notification.
DO NOT INTERFERE. FEDERAL OPERATION IN PROGRESS.
Victor spun toward them.
"Kill him!"
Nobody moved.
The silence inside the warehouse became heavier than the weapons pointed at me.
Only Elena's weak breathing broke it.
Victor finally understood.
For the first time in his life...
May you like
Money wasn't enough to make people obey.
And outside, the sound of helicopter blades was growing louder.
