Chapter 29 - The Gala AmbushThe fallout from Sarah’s live broadcast was instantaneous and catastrophic for Vanguard Holdings. Within hours, Julian Sterling’s stock plummeted by twenty-two percent. The FBI announced a preliminary inquiry into the corporate sabotage allegations, and the board of Kingsley Hospitality abruptly canceled their vote of no confidence.
But Julian Sterling was a cornered animal, and cornered animals were the most dangerous.
That evening, Felix and Sarah attended the annual Metropolitan Charity Gala, an event they had sponsored for years. They walked the red carpet with their heads held high, projecting an impenetrable front of unity and strength. Cameras flashed endlessly, reporters screaming questions about the live stream.
Inside the grand ballroom, the atmosphere was thick with tension. As Felix handed Sarah a glass of champagne, the crowd parted like the Red Sea.
Odette Kingsley and Celeste Arden were walking directly toward them. Odette looked furious, her aristocratic composure cracking under the weight of the public humiliation. Celeste, however, looked terrifyingly calm.
"You think a little social media stunt changes anything?" Odette hissed, her voice trembling with rage as she stopped inches from Felix. "You embarrassed your own family on the global stage, Felix!"
"You ceased to be my family the moment you attacked my wife and threatened my daughter, Mother," Felix said, his voice cold enough to freeze hell. "If you have any sense left, you will leave the country tonight."
Celeste stepped forward, her heels clicking softly on the marble. She looked at Sarah with a venomous smirk.
"You played a good hand today, Sarah," Celeste whispered, leaning in close. "But Julian is far from finished. You exposed his pawn, but you don't understand the board he's playing on. He doesn't just want your company anymore. He wants to see you bleed."
"Celeste," Sarah replied calmly, taking a sip of her champagne. "You are standing on the deck of a sinking ship, bragging about the view. When Julian goes down for federal racketeering, do you really think he won't throw a parolee right back under the bus to save himself?"
Celeste’s eyes flickered. The supreme confidence cracked, just for a millimeter, revealing the desperate fear underneath. She knew Sarah was right.
Suddenly, the massive doors of the ballroom burst open. A team of federal marshals in dark windbreakers strode into the opulent room, their badges flashing under the crystal chandeliers. The music scratched to an abrupt halt. The elite guests gasped and backed away.
The lead marshal walked directly past Felix, past Sarah, and stopped directly in front of Odette Kingsley.
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"Odette Kingsley," the marshal announced loudly, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his belt. "You are under arrest for conspiracy to commit corporate sabotage, wire fraud, and criminal extortion. Turn around and place your hands behind your back."
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