Chapter 4 - The Corporate Collapse
The color drained entirely from Daniel’s face. The arrogant swagger vanished, replaced by a sudden, frantic panic as he realized the quiet, unassuming bride in front of him possessed intelligence far more lethal than a clever wedding prank.
“You’re... you’re bluffing,” Daniel stammered, swatting blindly at the air. “That’s private corporate data! You can't just—that’s illegal!”
“It’s public record once the SEC files an indictment, Mr. Vance,” a calm, deep voice echoed from the back of the hall.
Stepping out from the shadow of the velvet drapes was Arthur Vance—no relation to Daniel, but a senior federal investigator specializing in corporate white-collar crime, and the father of Jessi’s new husband, Mark.
Arthur adjusted his glasses, walking forward with a measured, deliberate pace. “Daniel, your firm’s internal audit has been under federal review for six months. Your offshore accounts in the Caymans were frozen this morning at 9:00 a.m. The luxury lifestyle you provided your wife wasn't funded by your salary—it was stolen from pension funds.”
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Chloe gasped, turning her wide, horrified eyes toward her husband. “Daniel? What is he talking about? Our accounts... our home in the Hamptons?”
“Shut up! Just shut your mouth!” Daniel roared, losing all control, his hand lashing out in a blind fury to shove Arthur aside.
