Chapter 6 - CORNERED BEASTS
The air in the 45th-floor boardroom turned thick enough to choke on. The ambient hum of the air conditioning seemed to vanish, replaced by the heavy, rhythmic footsteps of the two federal marshals stepping up behind Marcus.
Julian instinctively backed up until his spine hit the glass wall overlooking the city skyline. "Marcus... this is a board room. You can't just bring federal agents in here! We are family! We can discuss this!"
"Family?" Marcus repeated the word slowly, as if tasting something bitter. He walked to the head of the long table, taking the executive chair that had remained empty since his wife Sarah’s death. He sat down, leaning back comfortably, crossing one leg over the other.
"When you tied my son with hemp rope and put him on a stage to be humiliated, did you think about family, Julian?"
"That was a discipline matter!" Victoria interjected, her voice rising in a desperate, shrill panic. "The boy was out of control! He destroyed a priceless vase!"
Marcus didn't even look at her. He reached into his coat pocket, pulled out a clear plastic evidence bag, and tossed it onto the center of the conference table.
Inside the bag was a small, sleek silver flash drive.
"That drive contains the high-definition security footage from the conservatory three hours before the party," Marcus said smoothly. "It shows your assistant, Victoria, accidentally knocking the vase off its pedestal while moving floral arrangements. It shows you looking at the broken glass, calling Leo into the room, and telling him that if he didn't take the blame, his father would go to prison."
Victoria’s breath hitched. Her face went completely drained of color.
"You set up a seven-year-old child to save your own ego," Marcus continued, his eyes cold as ice. "And then you used my absence to execute a public humiliation campaign so you could argue in court that I was raising an unstable child."
One of the federal marshals stepped forward, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his belt. "Julian Vance? Victoria Vance? You are under arrest for federal bank fraud, wire fraud, and grand larceny under the RICO statute. You have the right to remain silent."
"Wait! No!" Julian yelled, waving his hands wildly. "You don't understand! The stock is crashing! If I get arrested now, the bank will seize the company's collateral! We’ll lose everything!"
"You've already lost everything, Julian," Marcus said quietly. "I bought ninety percent of your personal debt notes through an offshore subsidiary two hours ago. I own your house. I own your cars. I own the clothes you're wearing right now."
Julian looked like he was going to vomit. He looked around at the other board members, searching for a ally, but every single one of them turned their heads away, staring at the carpet or their shoes. They were rats leaving a sinking ship.
"You monster..." Victoria spat, tears of rage finally breaking through her makeup as the marshal grabbed her wrists and pulled her arms behind her back. "You destroyed this family! Sarah would hate you for this!"
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Marcus stood up slowly. The height and breadth of his frame cast a long shadow over her.
"Sarah died trusting you," Marcus whispered, leaning in close so only she could hear. "And my only regret is that I didn't destroy you the day we buried her. Take them away."
