Absolute
1418 Words
Julian stood up from the VIP table. The crystal chandeliers reflected off his black silk eyepatch. The ballroom was completely silent. Every hedge fund manager, venture capitalist, and local politician stared at him. The music had stopped entirely.
"Stray Dog Holdings," Julian said. His voice echoed through the microphone on the main stage podium. He had walked up the acrylic steps while the crowd was paralyzed by the revelation. "It has a nice ring to it, do you not agree, Arthur?"
Arthur Sterling grabbed his chest. He gasped for air as the reality set in. "You bought us. You used a blind shell corporation to buy our shares."
"I used the exact two hundred million dollars I won at the casino this afternoon," Julian replied smoothly. He looked down at the Sterling table. "You sold your family legacy to a dummy corporation for five hundred thousand dollars. I bought it with the money you mocked me for winning. I turned your discarded trash into a five hundred million dollar empire in exactly four hours. I own the majority voting rights. I own the laboratories. I own the patents."
Marcus Vance shook with violent rage. His face was dark red. "You rigged the market. You had insider information from Doctor Rostova. You knew the federal board was going to reverse the decision. This is federal fraud."
"Doctor Rostova is an honest scientist who saved her own research," Julian countered. His tone was absolute ice. He looked at the venture capitalists in the room. "Apex Medica bribed the federal inspectors. They framed the Zenith Chief Executive Officer to secure a monopoly. Marcus and Arthur knew this entirely. They tried to sell you shares in an Apex Medica subsidiary tonight because they are part of the corruption. They wanted to steal your investment money to pay off their massive underground debts."
The investors backed away from the Vance table immediately. The room murmured with absolute disgust. The elite society of Crestwood City did not tolerate bad investments or public scammers.
"My chest," Arthur wheezed loudly. His face turned a dangerous shade of purple. He collapsed out of his chair and hit the marble floor heavily. He clawed at his silk collar. "I cannot breathe. Someone call a doctor."
"Daddy," Chloe screamed. She dropped to her knees beside him. She looked up at the stage. The realization of her absolute ruin broke her mind. She scrambled up. She ran toward the podium, ignoring her dying father.
"Julian, please," Chloe cried hysterically. Tears ruined her designer makeup. She reached her hands up toward him. "I did not know the truth. My father forced me to sign those medical papers in the clinic. He made me sell your eye. I always loved you. We are still husband and wife in my heart. Please take me back. I will share the company with you."
Julian looked down at her. His remaining left eye was entirely devoid of warmth. He felt absolutely nothing for the woman crying at his feet.
"You filed the divorce papers yourself," Julian stated clearly. "You demanded an immediate separation of assets in the hospital. You severed our ties because you thought I was a useless beggar."
"I was wrong," Chloe sobbed loudly. She clasped her hands together in prayer. "I will be a good wife. I will scrub your floors. I will do anything you ask. I love you."
"You love money," Julian corrected her. He leaned into the microphone. "Just like you loved the massive engagement ring Marcus bought you. Tell the entire room how much it cost, Chloe."
Chloe froze. The blood drained from her face. She tried to hide her left hand behind her back.
"Marcus bought that ring at a downtown pawn shop," Julian announced to the entire ballroom. "It is polished cubic zirconia glued to cheap brass. It cost exactly thirty five dollars. You sold my eye to marry a broke fraud who could not even afford a real diamond for his fake bride."
The elite women in the crowd gasped. Cruel laughter erupted from the back of the room. Social standing was everything in Crestwood City. Wearing a pawn shop fake was a permanent death sentence for Chloe in high society.
"You are lying," a wealthy socialite pointed at Chloe in sheer disgust. "She bragged about that ring all night. She said it was a flawless Belgian diamond imported yesterday."
"She is a beggar wearing rented silk," Julian said coldly. "The tag is still on the zipper."
Marcus Vance snapped completely. The public humiliation shattered his fragile ego. He let out a feral, guttural scream. He charged the stage. He vaulted over the front row of expensive chairs. He aimed a wild punch directly at Julian.
"I will kill you," Marcus roared.
Julian did not flinch. He did not move a single muscle.
A massive figure in an immaculate white suit stepped out of the shadows behind the podium.
Silas caught Marcus by the throat mid air. The butcher slammed the banking heir directly into the hardwood stage. The impact cracked the solid oak floorboards. Marcus gasped. All the air violently forced from his lungs. Silas pressed a heavy leather shoe onto the chest of Marcus. He pinned the heir down effortlessly.
"Assaulting the Chairman is a fatal mistake," Silas noted calmly. He adjusted his pristine white suit jacket.
"Silas?" Arthur choked out from the floor. He stared at the underground predator in pure horror. "What are you doing? You work for the underground syndicate."
"I work for Mister Julian," Silas corrected him. "He is my new employer. I am the head of corporate security for Zenith Pharmaceuticals. And you are trespassing on his property."
The Mayor signaled his police detail. Four uniformed officers rushed into the room.
"Arrest them," the Mayor ordered loudly. He pointed at Arthur and Marcus. "They are conspirators in the Apex Medica fraud. Take them to the city holding cells immediately."
The officers hauled Marcus up by his arms. They dragged Arthur off the marble floor. Arthur wept openly. Chloe followed them. She screamed and begged the officers to let her father go. The elite crowd watched in absolute silence as the former titans of Crestwood City were dragged out like common criminals. They were completely destroyed. They faced federal prison. Their remaining underground debts would ensure they never saw daylight again.
Julian stood victorious on the stage. He had his empire. He had his revenge.
Suddenly, the empty socket on the right side of his face throbbed with a violent, agonizing pulse. It was stronger than ever before. His remaining left eye burned with a blinding white heat.
The ballroom slowed to an absolute crawl. The crystal chandeliers froze in place.
Julian looked at the Mayor. The politician was smiling. He clapped his hands together in a show of public support for the new Chairman.
But a new stream of golden text erupted. It did not hover over an object or a corporate logo. It materialized directly over the forehead of the Mayor.
[Target Verified: Mayor Thomas Sterling]
[True Identity: Silent Partner of Apex Medica. Uncle to Chloe Sterling. Estranged Brother to Arthur Sterling.]
[Hidden Agenda: Facilitated the Zenith crash to buy the corporate real estate for private city development. Awarded the billion dollar government contract to Zenith only because he intends to seize the company through eminent domain tomorrow morning.]
[Catalyst Event: Mayor signs the city executive order at eight in the morning. Zenith assets are frozen indefinitely. Julian is indicted for insider trading based on planted federal evidence in his penthouse.]
[Estimated Survival Window: Twelve Hours.]
Julian stopped breathing. The golden text burned into his vision before fading into the frozen air.
The victory was an illusion. The Sterling family was just a pawn. Arthur was merely the loud distraction. The Mayor was the true architect of the crash. The politician had played them all. He used Arthur to destroy Zenith. He was planning to steal the five hundred million dollar empire before the sun came up.
The world resumed its normal speed.
The Mayor looked at Julian. The politician offered a warm, congratulatory smile. He extended his hand.
Julian smiled back. He shook the hand of his new enemy. The real corporate war was just beginning.
- Writer
