Chapter 8 - The Trojan Horse
Friday night arrived with a bitter snowstorm, burying the city in white. The Plaza Hotel glowed like a diamond, surrounded by limousines, paparazzi, and heavy private security.
At the service entrance in the back alley, a delivery truck carrying hundred-pound bags of ice pulled up. The driver, a gruff veteran from Silas's underground camp, handed the security guard a forged manifest Julian had created on a stolen laptop.
Inside the back of the truck, Julian and Silas were dressed in pristine white catering uniforms, procured by the underground network.
"Remember," Julian whispered as they wheeled the heavy ice carts into the service elevator. "We have exactly four minutes once Marcus starts speaking. I need to reach the AV control room on the mezzanine. You need to lock the main ballroom doors."
Silas nodded, his jaw set in iron determination. "For Elena."
They moved through the kitchen, invisible in their uniforms. The elite guests in tuxedos and evening gowns walked right past them, completely blind to the men carrying ice and clearing trays. Julian’s heart pounded, but his hands were steady.
He slipped away from the catering crew and bounded up the service stairwell to the mezzanine. He picked the lock of the AV room with a hairpin, a trick Silas had taught him days ago. Inside, two technicians were monitoring the massive screens.
Julian didn't hesitate. He moved with swift, brutal efficiency, knocking the first technician out with a heavy flashlight and subduing the second with a sleeper hold. He locked the door and rushed to the main terminal.
Down in the ballroom, the lights dimmed. Marcus Sterling, wearing a bespoke tuxedo and a predator’s smile, walked onto the grand stage. The applause was deafening.
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"Ladies and gentlemen," Marcus began, his voice booming over the speakers. "Tonight, we don't just celebrate a merger. We celebrate the triumph of vision. We celebrate the legacy of Sterling Financial."
In the AV room, Julian plugged in the encrypted hard drive. "Let's show them your legacy, Marcus," Julian whispered, and hit Enter.
