Chapter 5 - The Ultimate Betrayal
The string quartet abruptly stopped playing their instruments.
Absolute silence crashed over the Armand Grand Hall as the federal agents marched straight toward Julian’s table.
"Julian Duval, you are under investigation for massive wire fraud and corporate embezzlement," the lead agent announced loudly.
The guests surrounding Julian scrambled out of their chairs, desperate to distance themselves from a federal target.
Julian backed away from the table, his hands raised in a panicked surrender.
"There has been a massive misunderstanding," Julian stammered, his eyes darting frantically toward the exits.
"My finances are perfectly legal and handled by my accounting firm."
The FBI agent pulled out a thick stack of warrants from his jacket.
"We have undeniable evidence that you illegally funneled thirty million dollars from your investors into private offshore accounts."
Just then, Dalia emerged from the hallway, her makeup completely ruined by her tears.
She froze when she saw the federal agents surrounding her fiancé.
Julian saw her and instantly pointed an accusing finger directly at her chest.
"She did it!" Julian screamed, completely abandoning the woman he supposedly loved.
"Dalia had access to all my banking tokens, she is the one who set up the offshore accounts behind my back!"
Dalia gasped, her hands flying to her chest in absolute horror.
"Julian, how could you say that?" she cried out.
"Arrest her, she is a gold-digging thief who manipulated me!" Julian pleaded with the agents.
Dalia stared at the man who had promised her the world, realizing he was nothing more than a desperate coward.
Her tears completely stopped, replaced by a terrifying, cold resolve.
She reached into her designer clutch and pulled out her cell phone.
"I knew you would eventually try to throw me under the bus, Julian," Dalia said with a chillingly calm voice.
She plugged her phone into a nearby audio cable that connected to the gala's main sound system.
She pressed play on a hidden audio file.
Julian’s own voice echoed loudly through the massive ballroom speakers.
"Once the offshore transfer clears on Friday, I am dumping Dalia and leaving the country," the recorded Julian laughed.
"She is entirely too stupid to realize I used her identity to open the shell accounts."
The recording ended, leaving Julian completely trapped by his own arrogant words.
The lead FBI agent grabbed Julian by the arm and slammed him against the table.
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"Julian Duval, you are officially under arrest," the agent declared.
Julian violently shoved the agent backward and pulled a hidden silver pistol from his tuxedo jacket.
