Chapter 7 - The Heist
The gala was in full swing. The thumping bass of the string quartet echoed up the marble stairs.
Maya slipped out of the West Wing, dressed in a black sweater and jeans. She carried a small piece of clear tape and a dusting of graphite powder from Clara’s pencils. She blended into the shadows of the mezzanine, watching Arthur mingle below.
He set his champagne flute down on a passing waiter's tray. As the waiter moved toward the kitchen, Maya intercepted him in the dim hallway.
"Excuse me, Mr. Vanguard asked me to retrieve that specific glass," she lied smoothly, flashing a polite, subservient smile. The waiter shrugged and handed it over.
Hiding in a pantry, Maya dusted the glass, lifted the thumbprint with the tape, and pressed it onto a thin layer of quick-drying craft silicone. Ten minutes later, she was standing in front of the heavy mahogany doors of Arthur’s master study.
Her hands shook uncontrollably. If she was caught, she was dead. She pressed the silicone mold against the glowing green optical scanner.
Beep. Access Granted.
Maya slipped inside. The study was massive, lined with first-edition books and modern art. She rushed to the computer on the desk. It was locked, but Clara had told her Arthur’s ultimate weakness: his ego. Maya typed in the ticker symbol for his company's IPO, followed by the year.
The screen unlocked.
She plugged in a USB drive and began frantically searching the hidden partitions. There it was. A folder titled S.V. Contingency. Inside were photos of the damaged car, hush-money wire transfers to the private doctor, and the architectural blueprints for the pool house with a glaring anomaly in the concrete foundation.
She hit Download.
10%... 30%...
Suddenly, the handle of the study door rattled. Maya’s blood turned to ice. She dove beneath the massive oak desk just as the door swung open.
"I told you, Eleanor, the investors are getting anxious!" Arthur’s voice boomed into the room. Footsteps approached the desk.
"Then lie to them, Arthur," Eleanor’s icy voice replied. "Just like we lied about everything else. I need you downstairs. Now."
May you like
Arthur sighed, standing inches from Maya's face hidden beneath the desk. "Fine. Let me just check my emails."
He pulled the chair out. Maya closed her eyes, preparing to fight for her life.
