Chapter 10 - The True Cost
The server room descended into absolute chaos.
Vance stared at the red monitors in sheer horror, his face turning the color of ash.
Chad's live stream was capturing every second of his father's mental collapse.
The lead police officer's radio suddenly crackled to life with a frantic voice.
"All units at TechNova, stand down on the Sterling arrest."
"Federal warrants have just been issued for Marcus and Chad Vance."
The officers instantly released me, stepping back and turning their weapons toward Vance.
"This is a setup!" Vance shrieked, backing away toward the shattered glass doors.
"He fabricated those files!"
"The FBI will determine that in federal court," the lead officer said, slapping cuffs onto Vance's wrists.
Chad dropped his phone, finally realizing his privileged life was over.
He sobbed as an officer shoved him against the wall to detain him.
David, my former lead board member, fell to his knees, completely panicked.
"Julian, please," David begged, his voice shaking.
"We were blackmailed."
"We can reverse the vote right now."
I rubbed my bruised wrists and looked down at him with cold indifference.
"The board is dissolved, and you are all fired," I stated firmly.
By noon, the news cycle had completely flipped.
The Vance empire was seized by the federal government, and their stock plummeted to zero.
TechNova's shares skyrocketed as the truth about my innocence was broadcast globally.
Emma was cleared of all charges and accepted my offer to become TechNova's Chief Financial Officer.
Hector was recovering fully in a private hospital, entirely funded by my personal account.
I finally walked out of the glass tower, wearing a fresh, clean white shirt.
Nobody bothered me in the parking plaza.
I drove my battered Porsche to my favorite quiet cafe.
I sat in the corner booth, sipping my black coffee in total, blissful silence.
The war was won, and my company was finally secure.
As I took another sip, the secure, encrypted phone in my pocket vibrated with an unknown number.
I answered it, expecting another apologetic investor.
"Marcus Vance was just a pawn, Julian," a distorted, mechanical voice whispered through the speaker.
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"Did you really think you could stop the true owners of TechNova?"
A heavy red laser dot suddenly appeared perfectly in the center of my coffee cup.
