Chapter 3 - The Golden Boy's Fall
Grant stood in the doorway, completely out of breath.
His expensive designer suit was wrinkled, and his perfectly styled hair was a mess.
"They are seizing every computer and freezing all of our corporate bank accounts," Grant panicked.
My father turned completely pale and grabbed the edge of the hospital tray for balance.
"What did you do, Grant?" my father whispered in sheer horror.
Grant finally noticed Elias standing in the room beside my bed.
His eyes widened as he realized he was standing in the presence of his ultimate rival.
"What is he doing here?" Grant demanded, pointing an aggressive finger at Elias.
"He is meeting his newborn son," I said calmly, looking directly at my older brother.
Grant stared at me, then down at little Noah, and then back at Elias.
The realization hit him like a physical blow to the stomach.
"You sold us out to the competition," Grant accused me loudly.
"You gave him our financial records to orchestrate this raid, didn't you, Chloe?" he screamed.
Elias instantly stepped between me and my furious brother.
"Lower your voice in my son's presence, or I will have my security throw you out the window," Elias threatened coldly.
Grant took a nervous step backward, intimidated by Elias's massive presence.
"Chloe did not sell you out, Grant," one of Elias's attorneys spoke up calmly.
"Your own greed exposed your crimes," the lawyer explained.
"When you tried to secure another illegal loan last week, the offshore bank flagged the transaction as fraudulent," he continued.
My mother collapsed into the small visitor's chair, weeping openly into her hands.
"Grant, tell me you did not steal from the company," my mother sobbed desperately.
Grant refused to look his mother in the eye.
He knew he was completely trapped.
"I was trying to expand our portfolio!" Grant argued defensively.
"I needed the extra capital to keep up with Vale Industries!" he shouted, trying to justify his massive theft.
My father suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Grant by the collar of his expensive suit.
"You forged my signature on those offshore accounts?" my father roared in absolute fury.
"I gave you the keys to the kingdom, and you destroyed us!" he screamed, shaking his golden boy.
Elias watched the pathetic family drama unfold with cold, detached amusement.
"You might want to save your energy for the federal prosecutors, Richard," Elias advised casually.
"They have enough evidence to put your golden child away for twenty years," Elias added.
Grant shoved his father away and glared at Elias with pure hatred.
"You set me up," Grant hissed through his teeth.
"You have been manipulating the market for years just to force me into those bad loans," Grant realized out loud.
Elias did not deny the terrifying accusation.
He simply offered a dark, knowing smile that confirmed everything.
Elias had orchestrated the entire downfall of the Mercer family to protect me and avenge the way they treated me.
"It was just business, Grant," Elias mocked softly.
Just then, a pair of federal agents wearing dark windbreakers stepped into the hospital room.
"Grant Mercer, you are under arrest for massive corporate fraud and embezzlement," the lead agent announced.
Grant tried to run toward the door, but the second agent tackled him hard to the hospital floor.
They slapped heavy steel handcuffs onto his wrists right in front of our parents.
"Mom! Call the family lawyers!" Grant screamed as they dragged him out of the room.
My mother sobbed hysterically, watching her perfect son being taken away in cuffs.
My father turned slowly toward me, his eyes filled with absolute desperation.
"Chloe, you have to use your shares to bail him out," my father begged pathetically.
"You are the only one who can save this family now," he pleaded.
Before I could answer, Elias's lead attorney cleared his throat loudly.
May you like
"Actually, Mr. Mercer, there is one minor detail we haven't discussed yet," the lawyer said with a sharp grin.
"Your daughter no longer owns twelve percent of the company."
