Chapter 5 - The Arsenal
Grief is a heavy thing, but rage is a spectacular fuel.
Julian spent the weekend in his grandfather’s dusty attic. He didn't sleep. He didn't eat. He poured over the 1978 documents, the original patents, and the letters. He cross-referenced them with public records of Sterling Holdings.
Arthur’s original patents—the very patents Beatrice had stolen—were the foundational technology for the eco-friendly structural steel that the Sterling empire was currently using to build their multi-billion dollar international projects. Without those patents, Sterling Holdings was legally paralyzed. And because the buyout was forged, the patents still legally belonged to the Hayes bloodline.
Julian needed a lawyer. But not just any lawyer. He needed a shark. He needed someone who hated Beatrice Sterling as much as he did.
On Monday morning, Julian walked into the sleek, glass-walled offices of Vance & Associates. Marcus Vance was a corporate litigator known for being utterly merciless. He had also been personally bankrupted by Beatrice Sterling a decade ago during a hostile real estate takeover.
Julian bypassed the secretary and pushed his way into Vance’s corner office. Marcus, a sharp-featured man with premature gray hair, looked up from his desk, annoyed.
"Who the hell are you?" Marcus demanded.
Julian slammed the faded red ribbon and the stack of 1978 documents onto the center of the mahogany desk.
"I'm the guy who’s going to help you take down Beatrice Sterling," Julian said.
Marcus let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Kid, get in line. Half of Chicago wants to take down Beatrice Sterling. She’s untouchable."
"Look at the signatures," Julian commanded.
Marcus frowned, picked up his reading glasses, and glanced at the top document. His eyes widened. He flipped to the next page. Then the next. The color drained from his face. He looked up at Julian, his expression completely transformed.
"Where did you get these?" Marcus whispered.
May you like
"They belong to my grandfather," Julian said, leaning over the desk. "And tomorrow morning, Beatrice Sterling is hosting her annual shareholder summit to announce the acquisition of the Tokyo skyline project. I want to crash the party."
Marcus looked back down at the papers, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his face. "Kid... we aren't just going to crash the party. We're going to burn the house down."
