Chapter 6 - The Viral Fallout
By the time Clara posted her own $5 million bail two hours later, the internet was on fire.
The hashtag #BeverlyHillsBandit was trending worldwide. Mia’s follower count skyrocketed by two million in a single night. She was booked on daytime talk shows. Her sponsors flooded her inbox with massive contract renewals. She was the hero of the internet.
But the internet is also a dangerous weapon. Within hours, sleuths had identified the "nameless thief."
The headlines shifted from Store Robbed to BILLIONAIRE KLEPTOMANIAC: Sterling Private Equity CEO Clara Sterling Arrested for Stealing $750k Watch!
Sterling Equity’s stock took a minor hit. Clara's board of directors was panicking. But inside Clara’s sprawling Bel-Air mansion, the atmosphere was as cold and precise as a military war room.
Clara sat at the head of a massive mahogany table. Surrounding her were the most terrifying lawyers, digital forensics experts, and PR sharks in the country.
"She thinks she's won," Clara said, swirling a glass of sparkling water. "She thinks reality is whatever she broadcasts to her little followers."
"The police report is damning, Clara," Marcus Vance said, adjusting his glasses. "The watch was in your bag. The boutique’s standard security cameras only show you standing there when the drink is spilled. It’s a blind spot."
"There is no such thing as a blind spot," Clara replied softly. "Not anymore. Did we acquire the building?"
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"The wire transfer cleared twenty minutes ago," Marcus confirmed. "We own the real estate."
"Good. Tell our cyber team to rip the boutique's servers apart. Find me the truth."
