Chapter 27 - |
The trap was set with meticulous precision. Daniel reached out to Marcus Vale through a secure, monitored email channel, offering a private meeting at the foundation headquarters to "resolve the ongoing media dispute amicably." Marcus, blinded by his own greed and assuming Daniel was still the naive, easily manipulated target he had been years ago, accepted the invitation immediately.
Simultaneously, Daniel contacted Elias Vance. He invited the journalist to sit quietly in the adjoining office, with the door slightly ajar, to observe exactly how the foundation handled threats. Elias, sensing a massive scoop, agreed to full confidentiality until the meeting concluded.
On Thursday afternoon, Marcus Vale walked into the foundation lobby. He looked significantly older and rougher after his stint in prison, wearing a cheap suit that hung loosely on his frame. He carried an air of desperate arrogance, sneering at the receptionist as he was escorted into Daniel’s expansive office.
I watched from the security feed in Martin Hale's office, my heart pounding in my throat.
Daniel was sitting behind his desk, looking calm, composed, and utterly in control. He didn't stand up when Marcus entered. He simply gestured to the chair opposite his desk.
"Marcus," Daniel said coldly. "Have a seat."
Marcus smirked, sprawling into the leather chair and looking around the opulent office with clear envy. "Nice place you've got here, Danny. Must be nice, sitting on your high horse while my sister rots in a cell because of your mother's little trap."
"Your sister is in a cell because she committed wire fraud and attempted to steal millions of dollars," Daniel corrected him smoothly, his voice devoid of any emotional reaction. "Just as you did. I assume you didn't come here to discuss the legal definition of conspiracy."
"I came here to talk about my future," Marcus leaned forward, dropping the smirk. "I have friends in the media, Danny. Bloggers who don't care about your expensive lawyers. I can keep this story in the headlines for months. I can ruin your shiny new housing project by making you look like a monster who destroys poor families."
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"And how do we prevent that?" Daniel asked, playing his part perfectly.
Marcus smiled, a greedy glint in his eye. "Three million dollars. Wired to an offshore account. You pay me, and the articles disappear forever. A small price to keep your pristine reputation intact."
