Chapter 2 - The Setup
Daniel sprinted to the disposal chute, but the steel doors were locked.
He had lost everything except the clothes on his back and the thin folder in his hand.
He could not let this destroy his daughter’s future.
He hailed a cab and rushed directly to the Bennett Technologies glass skyscraper.
The receptionist escorted him to an imposing boardroom on the fortieth floor.
Victoria was already seated at the head of the massive mahogany table.
However, a tall man with a cruel smirk sat beside her.
"Welcome, Mr. Carter," the man said smoothly.
"I am Richard Vance, the Vice President of Operations."
Daniel sat down, trying to project a confidence he did not feel.
"We heard about your heroism on the plane," Richard continued.
"But a company is not run on good deeds."
Richard pressed a button on a remote control.
A massive screen on the wall illuminated.
It did not show Daniel’s impressive technical background.
Instead, it displayed a police report and a forged bank statement.
"We know exactly who you are, Mr. Carter," Richard said.
"And we know about the fifty thousand dollars you embezzled from your last employer."
Daniel stared at the screen in absolute horror.
"That is a lie," Daniel said, his voice trembling with anger.
"I have never stolen a dime in my life."
Victoria looked deeply troubled, staring at the documents.
"Then why did your previous manager just call to warn us about you?" Richard asked.
Richard signaled the security guards standing by the door.
"Remove this criminal from the premises," Richard ordered.
The guards grabbed Daniel by the arms and dragged him toward the elevator.
May you like
As the elevator doors closed, Daniel’s phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.
It read, "Keep quiet and leave the city, or your daughter pays the price."
