Chapter 8 - The Trap Redrawn
With Silas Vance’s billions secured, Evelyn unleashed hell.
She didn't just short Thorne Capital; she orchestrated a masterpiece of psychological warfare. She leaked a dossier—completely factual—detailing Marcus’s disastrous investment in the fake AURELIA formula. She exposed the toxic debt he was carrying.
But the fatal blow was the rumor she planted on Wall Street.
Through anonymous proxies, Evelyn spread the word that the SEC was investigating Thorne Capital for massive accounting fraud—the very fraud she had confronted him with in Chapter 1.
By Tuesday morning, the market opened in a bloodbath. Thorne Capital’s stock plummeted 30% in the first hour.
Marcus, panicked, tried to pump his own stock, liquidating his real estate assets to buy shares and stop the bleeding. But Evelyn had two billion dollars to play with. Every time Marcus bought, Evelyn shorted double.
She sat in her office, watching the terminal screens glow red, her fingers steepled beneath her chin.
Chloe walked in, looking pale. “Ms. Sterling… Marcus Thorne is in the lobby. He’s demanding to see you. Security wants to know if they should call the police.”
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Evelyn smiled, a cold, sharp expression that didn't reach her eyes.
“No, Chloe. Send him up. I want to look him in the eye when the bell rings.”
