Chapter 17 - The Heist at the Gala
The Vance Tower stood in the center of the city skyline like a massive, glittering monument to pure, unadulterated greed. The annual charity gala was in full swing, flooded with ruthless politicians, corrupt CEOs, and entirely oblivious celebrities.
Clara stepped out of the rented black town car wearing a breathtaking, floor-length crimson gown. She felt completely terrified, but she masked it with a cold, aristocratic confidence. Julian stepped out beside her, looking dangerously handsome in a tailored tuxedo that completely hid his heavy tactical holster.
Because Julian was legally a Vance heir, his biometric data was still buried deep in the building's legacy security code. That was their absolute only advantage in this desperate, suicidal mission.
"Remember the plan," Julian whispered, gently offering his arm as they walked toward the blinding flashbulbs of the paparazzi. "We smile, we mingle, and at exactly ten o'clock, we slip away during the keynote speech. The security cameras loop for exactly four minutes during the server reset."
Clara nodded, forcing a bright, entirely fake smile as they walked through the massive glass doors. The ballroom was a chaotic sea of expensive diamonds and flowing champagne, completely masking the dark, evil reality of Victoria's empire.
From across the room, Clara spotted Victoria Vance standing on a raised podium, holding court like a tyrannical queen. Clara’s heart violently screamed to run over and demand her son back, but she forced herself to look away.
At exactly 9:58 PM, the heavy ballroom lights dimmed, and Victoria stepped up to the microphone to deliver her hypocritical speech about saving the children.
"Now," Julian whispered urgently, pulling Clara smoothly toward a restricted, velvet-roped hallway hidden behind a massive floral arrangement.
They moved rapidly through the quiet, dimly lit corridors. Julian bypassed the first retinal scanner by pressing his eye against the lens. The machine glowed green, reluctantly accepting the prodigal son's biometric signature.
They hurried toward the heavy freight elevator that led directly into the subterranean vault. As the metal doors slid closed, Clara finally let out a massive, shaking breath.
"We are actually doing this," Clara whispered, pulling a small, heavy crowbar and an electronic hacking device from her concealed thigh holster under the dress.
The elevator descended violently, dropping deep into the bedrock beneath the tower. When the doors opened, they stepped out into a completely sterile, freezing concrete bunker lined with thousands of titanium deposit boxes.
"Box number 814," Julian stated, moving rapidly down the metallic aisle.
They found the heavy metal box, but the electronic keypad required a specific eight-digit passcode that Samantha did not possess.
"Gabriel is a complete narcissist," Clara realized quickly, her mind racing. "He wouldn't use a random number. He would use the date he thought he won the ultimate prize."
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Clara typed in the exact date Gabriel had forged her signature on the custody surrender forms. The heavy metal lock clicked loudly, and the small titanium door slowly swung open.
Inside sat a thick, black leather ledger and a single USB drive. They had actually found the weapon to destroy the Vance empire. But as Julian reached out to grab the book, the entire vault suddenly flooded with blinding red alarm lights, and the heavy elevator doors violently locked shut.
