Chapter 7 - The Mastermind's Hubris
In the basement of the chalet, Julian had set up a command center with Anton.
"Victor is panicking," Anton reported, pointing to the multiple screens displaying intercepted communications. "With you missing, the billion-dollar merger is frozen. The board is demanding answers. Camila is playing the grieving girlfriend to the press, claiming you had a mental breakdown."
Julian scoffed. "She's a good actress. Have you found the money?"
Anton nodded, pulling up a complex web of banking transfers. "Victor has been embezzling from your European real estate division for three years. Over two hundred million euros. He used Camila's shell companies in the Caymans to wash it. If the merger went through, he would have gained enough board seats to permanently bury the audit."
"And Elena?" Julian asked, his voice hardening.
"Elena was doing the charity books last year, remember? She accidentally requested an audit of the very accounts Victor was bleeding. She didn't realize what she found, but Victor knew it was only a matter of time before she showed the discrepancies to you. He had to eliminate her to protect his theft."
Julian’s fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white. He had almost lost his wife and his child over greed.
"It's time to spring the trap," Julian said coldly. "Send a secure message to Victor. Tell him I'm willing to negotiate."
"Negotiate?" Anton raised an eyebrow.
"Tell him I want out. Tell him he can have the company, all of it, if he lets me and Elena disappear in peace. Tell him I'm at the old shipping warehouse at the docks, and I have the signed transfer documents."
May you like
Anton grinned, a predatory glint in his eye. "He won't come to negotiate. He'll come to finish the job."
"I'm counting on it," Julian said.
