Chapter 9 - The Hostage Standoff
The impossible image of my dead father on the security screen sent a violent shockwave through my entire body.
My father had perished in a tragic, fiery helicopter crash five years ago, leaving the empire entirely to me.
I desperately wanted to rewind the blurry footage, but a sudden, frantic alert blared from Grant's tactical radio.
"Madam Chairman, we have a massive code red situation in the main lobby!" a security guard shouted through the static.
Everett had somehow managed to slip his handcuffs while the police were distracted by the frantic fleeing guests.
He had completely lost his mind and taken a high-ranking corporate board member violently hostage at knifepoint.
I forced the terrifying mystery of my father out of my mind and sprinted back toward the emergency stairwell.
We ran down sixty flights of stairs, my adrenaline completely masking the exhaustion burning in my lungs.
I burst through the lobby doors and immediately assessed the highly volatile, terrifying standoff.
Everett was backing slowly toward the grand glass entrance, holding a sharp steak knife tightly against the board member's throat.
Dozens of police officers had their weapons drawn, but they were unable to fire due to the terrified hostage.
"I want a fully fueled helicopter on the roof, and I want full federal immunity!" Everett screamed hysterically.
He looked absolutely deranged, his expensive tuxedo ruined and his eyes completely wild with unhinged desperation.
I walked calmly through the wall of armed police officers, my posture straight and entirely fearless.
"You really are a completely predictable, pathetic amateur, Everett," I said loudly, drawing his furious attention.
Everett pressed the sharp blade slightly harder against the weeping board member's neck, drawing a tiny drop of blood.
"Stay back, Evelyn, or I swear I will open his throat right now!" my deranged husband threatened aggressively.
I did not stop walking until I was exactly ten feet away from the dangerous, unpredictable madman.
I looked directly into the terrified eyes of the wealthy board member he was holding hostage.
"Do you know why I never trusted this particular board member, Everett?" I asked casually, folding my arms.
Everett frowned deeply, completely confused by my bizarre lack of concern for the man's life.
"Because he is secretly bankrupt, and he actually owes the cartel more money than you do," I revealed smoothly.
I explained that I had just digitally transferred the board member's massive cartel debt entirely into Everett's name.
Everett's eyes widened in absolute, paralyzing horror as he realized he was now the cartel's primary target.
"The hostage you are holding is completely worthless to me, but you are now worth ten million dollars dead," I smiled coldly.
Everett's hands began to tremble violently as the terrifying reality of his new debt crushed his spirit.
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He looked wildly around the grand lobby, realizing there was absolutely no escape from the ruthless cartel assassins.
Suddenly, a bright red sniper's laser dot appeared perfectly centered squarely on Everett's sweaty forehead.
