My Husband Forced My Hand Onto a Blazing Stove Because He Said the Steak Was “Ruined.” As I Crumpled to the Floor in Pain, My Mother-in-Law Stepped Over Me to Pour Herself Another Glass of Wine and Scoffed, “Maybe Now She’ll Learn Her Place.” My Father-in-Law Barely Looked Up From the Television. They Thought I Was Reaching for a Bandage Beneath the Kitchen Island. They Never Imagined I Was Triggering a Hidden Camera That Was Already Sending Everything to the Police. / Chapter 32 / 43

Chapter 32 - The Gala Infiltration

The air around the old Federal Reserve building crackled with the electric energy of wealth and power. Black luxury vehicles lined the street, dropping off politicians and socialites wrapped in silk and diamonds. I walked past the red carpet, completely invisible in my dark blue Vanguard technician uniform, carrying a heavy metal toolkit.

I approached the service entrance in the back alley. A bored-looking security guard was leaning against the brick wall, smoking a cigarette.

"ID," he grunted, barely looking up.

I handed him the forged badge. "Emergency IT dispatch. The catering crew on the top floor blew out their local network trying to stream a presentation. Vanguard sent me to reroute the servers."

The guard glanced at the badge, swiped it on his scanner. Thanks to Chloe’s backdoor access, the scanner beeped a pleasant green.

"Take freight elevator B," the guard muttered, handing the badge back. "Don't bother the guests."

"Wouldn't dream of it," I replied, stepping into the building.

The service corridor was stark concrete and fluorescent lights. I bypassed the bustling catering staff and found freight elevator B. I stepped inside and pressed the earpiece.

"I'm in," I whispered. "Override the elevator controls."

"Copy that," Chloe’s voice buzzed in my ear. "Rerouting elevator B to the subterranean level. Hold on to your stomach."

The elevator jolted, descending rapidly instead of ascending to the gala. The temperature dropped significantly as we plummeted below the street level.

"I am initiating the malware cascade in thirty seconds," Chloe warned. "The moment the lights go out, you move. You have seven minutes, Anna."

The elevator came to a harsh, shuddering halt. The heavy metal doors slid open, revealing a long, dark corridor lined with thick steel piping. At the end of the hall stood the massive, imposing titanium door of the Ghost Vault.

Two armed guards stood in front of it.

"Twenty seconds," Chloe counted down.

I crouched in the shadows of the elevator, my heart beating a slow, steady rhythm. I didn't feel fear. I felt a cold, hyper-focused clarity. I watched the guards, timing their breathing, calculating the distance.

"Ten seconds," Chloe said. "Brace yourself."

I pulled the decryption module from my sleeve, the small screen glowing faintly in my hand.

"Three. Two. One. Blackout."

With a loud, metallic THUNK, every single light in the subterranean level shattered into absolute, pitch-black darkness. The hum of the servers died instantly.