Chapter 31 - The Fall of the Giant
"What is the meaning of this?!" Salazar shouted, trying to regain his authority, though his voice cracked with sudden panic. "Do you know who I am? I own half the judges in this city! You have no right to barge into my meeting!"
Elena Robles walked through the doors behind the tactical team, looking immensely satisfied. She held a digital tablet displaying the live audio waveform of the conversation that had just taken place.
"You don't own federal judges, Mr. Salazar," Elena stated, her voice ringing with lethal authority. "And you certainly don't own the audio recording we just captured of you admitting to extortion, corporate espionage, and domestic terrorism."
Salazar’s eyes darted to Natalia, realizing instantly that he had walked blindly into a meticulously crafted trap. The weak, defeated woman was a total illusion. She had outplayed the most dangerous developer in the state.
"You wore a wire," Salazar hissed, his face turning an ugly, mottled purple. "You treacherous bitch."
"I am an architect, Mauricio," Natalia replied calmly, standing up from her desk. "I know how to build things to withstand immense pressure. And I know how to demolish rotting structures."
The federal agents violently grabbed Salazar’s arms, twisting them behind his back and snapping heavy steel handcuffs onto his wrists. He struggled wildly, cursing and threatening the agents, but they ignored him entirely, dragging the disgraced mogul out of the office.
Javier, meanwhile, was cowering on the floor in the corner of the room. He looked pathetic, trembling like a frightened child. The arrogant man who had slapped a sixty-two-year-old woman was completely broken by the sight of real, undeniable consequences.
An agent hauled Javier to his feet, slamming him face-first against the glass wall of the office.
"No! Please!" Javier sobbed, tears streaming down his face. "I didn't do anything! He forced me! Salazar made me do it! I didn't want to hurt anyone!"
Natalia walked slowly toward him. She looked at the man who had caused her so much pain, feeling absolutely nothing but profound, heavy pity.
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"You always blame someone else, Javier," Natalia whispered, standing inches from his terrified face. "But this time, your mother isn't here to save you."
The agent locked the cuffs onto Javier’s wrists and hauled him out the door. The silence that fell over the office was beautiful, absolute, and utterly triumphant.
