Chapter 8 - The Falling Dominoes
Julian stumbled backward, looking between Marcus and Maya in utter disbelief.
"You... you set me up," Julian stammered, his polished composure dissolving into sheer panic.
"Eighteen months ago, our internal compliance monitors flagged suspicious capital routing in our European subsidiaries," Marcus said, stepping up to the desk beside his daughter. "Every path led back to an internal master account with high-level clearance. Only three people had that clearance: me, Maya, and you."
"I gave my life to this firm, Marcus!" Julian shouted, his hands trembling as the U.S. Marshals stepped forward. "I built this empire with you!"
"And then you got greedy," Maya said calmly. "You thought because you were Vice Chairman, you were untouchable. You thought a twenty-three-year-old girl was just playing at being a corporate executive."
The senior federal agent stepped forward, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his belt.
"Julian Vance, you are under arrest for federal securities fraud, wire fraud, grand larceny, and conspiracy," the agent announced loudly, clicking the cold steel cuffs around Julian’s wrists. "You have the right to remain silent..."
As the agents led a pale, quiet Julian out of the penthouse office, Marcus turned to his daughter, taking a deep breath as he looked at her wet hair and exhausted eyes.
"Are you alright, Maya?" Marcus asked softly, placing a large, warm hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine, Dad," Maya said, offering a tired smile. "Although I think my favorite navy blazer is permanently ruined by pool chlorine."
Marcus chuckled, his eyes filled with fierce pride. "I think we can afford to buy you a new blazer. How does the Vice Chairmanship of Reed-Vance Capital sound to go with it?"
May you like
Maya looked out the floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the Chicago skyline as the first light of dawn broke over Lake Michigan, painting the clouds in brilliant shades of gold and rose.
"I'll take the job," Maya said smoothly. "But first... I have one final piece of business to finish at Whitmore Global."
