Chapter 5 - The War Room
The heavy mahogany doors of the private VIP holding lounge slammed shut, cutting off the chaotic roar of the ballroom outside.
Marcus, the lawyer, rushed into the room behind them, his face slick with nervous sweat, his expensive silk tie pulled loose at the collar. He locked the heavy brass deadbolt with a trembling hand and spun around to face Victor Blackwood.
“Mr. Blackwood, we have a catastrophic situation,” Marcus stammered, his voice pitching higher with every syllable. “Did you see the press table? Sarah Jenkins from the Financial Times was sitting right there. By morning, every major media outlet in North America is going to run headlines about the copyright vulnerability of The Obsidian Sonata. Our stock valuation is going to take a direct hit before the New York exchange even opens tomorrow!”
Victor didn't answer immediately. He stood in the center of the private lounge, staring blankly at the ornate Persian rug. His chest heaved with slow, measured breaths. The towering, untouchable titan of Wall Street looked ten years older than he had twenty minutes ago.
Slowly, deliberately, Victor raised his head. His eyes were cold, dead, and burning with a terrifying, calculated resolve.
“Get me Arthur Sterling,” Victor said, his voice dropping into an icy, whispering register that made Marcus flinch.
“Sterling?” Marcus echoed, swallowing hard. “The head of corporate security? Mr. Blackwood, what are you planning? We can’t touch them legally now—not with half the press corps in the city watching every move we make!”
“Who said anything about legal?” Victor walked over to the mahogany bar, poured himself three fingers of neat scotch, and tossed it back in a single gulp. He slammed the crystal glass down onto the counter, the sharp clack echoing off the marble walls. “Elias Cole thought he could outsmart me from the grave by teaching his brat a song. He thought he could ruin everything I’ve built.”
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Victor turned around, fixing Marcus with a gaze that brooked no argument.
“They walked out of this hotel ten minutes ago,” Victor said coldly. “Find out where they are hiding. I don’t care about copyrights anymore. I want the girl.”
