MY SISTER SLAPPED MY LITTLE BOY AT A BALLROOM FULL OF HUNDREDS, and minutes later a four-star General saluted me as the quiet hero behind the $500 million defense contract. Why did the room go silent?

"I don't need to prove it to a jury, Richard," I said, opening the folder in my hands. "I just need to show this to your partners at Apex Global."

Sterling froze, his scotch glass pausing halfway to his lips. "What are you talking about?"

"Apex Global promised you a twenty percent commission if you delivered them the $500 million defense contract," I bluffed smoothly, watching his facial muscles intently. "But what they don't know is that you've been skimming offshore funds from their primary holding accounts in Switzerland for three years."

Sterling’s face turned a violent shade of crimson. "That’s a lie!"

"Is it?" I took a step closer, my voice echoing with terrifying authority. "You thought Madison was the stupid one, Richard. But you left a paper trail a mile wide. You used my credentials at 7:31 p.m., but you forgot that the Pentagon’s secondary terminal has an automated thermal camera above the keyboard. We have high-definition infrared footage of your face sitting at that desk."

"You... you're bluffing," Sterling stammered, sweat breaking out along his hairline.

"Try me," I dared him quietly. "Give me thirty minutes, and Army Cyber Command will broadcast that thermal video to every news station in the country. You won't just go to federal prison for corporate sabotage, Richard—you'll rot in a maximum-security facility for treason."

Sterling’s composure completely shattered. He slammed his scotch glass down onto a side table, shattering the crystal.

"Your father is an idiot!" Sterling spat, his voice hysterical. "And your sister is a greedy, mindless narcissist! I spent fifteen years building Carter Defense while your father played patriarch! I deserved that contract! I deserved that money!"

"And what about my son?" I asked, stepping up to his face. "Did a five-year-old boy deserve to be struck because of your game?"

"He was collateral damage!" Sterling screamed. "Just like you!"