Chapter 7 - The Arrest Warrant
I stared intensely at the priceless diamond necklace resting delicately against Elena's collarbone.
Ryan casually introduced her as a very important new corporate client who was visiting from out of town.
He clearly believed I was stupid enough to accept this pathetic, deeply insulting lie.
Elena smiled brightly and extended her perfectly manicured hand to greet me.
I shook her hand firmly, entirely masking the intense hatred boiling rapidly inside my veins.
We sat down at the lavishly decorated table just as Maya finally walked confidently into the room.
Maya pretended to be genuinely shocked to see me, claiming her Seattle flight had been mysteriously canceled due to weather.
She took a seat right next to Elena, and the three of them secretly exchanged knowing, triumphant glances.
They celebrated loudly together, drinking incredibly expensive champagne paid for entirely with my stolen credit cards.
They genuinely believed they had successfully secured my real estate empire and orchestrated my impending death.
I quietly tapped my phone hidden under the linen tablecloth, sending a pre-written text message to a private investigator I had hired.
I simply wrote, "Execute the final phase of the plan immediately."
The waiter arrived holding a silver tray with our main courses, but before anyone could take a bite, the restaurant doors swung open violently.
Three heavily armed federal agents marched directly into our private dining room with absolute authority.
They held up shiny gold badges and demanded that everyone at the table freeze immediately.
Ryan stood up arrogantly and demanded to know the legal meaning of this highly inappropriate interruption.
The lead agent completely ignored him and walked straight toward my side of the dinner table.
He pulled a pair of heavy steel handcuffs from his black tactical belt.
May you like
He grabbed my wrists forcefully and locked the cold metal tightly around my bare skin.
He loudly announced to the entire restaurant that I was being placed under federal arrest for massive corporate fraud and money laundering.
