Chapter 27 - The Turncoat | "The contract is already signed, Claire," Richard said, a terrifying sense of calm descending over his frail frame. "The money is in escrow. Even if I die tonight, Aegis Protocol will fulfill the directive. They don't take refunds, and they don't cancel orders."
"They do if the bank account disappears," I countered smoothly, pulling a thin tablet from my purse.
I tapped the screen and held it out so he could see.
"What is that?" he demanded, his brow furrowing.
"That is the final execution order of the hostile buyout," I explained, my voice chillingly steady. "As of ten minutes ago, the SEC cleared the acquisition. Vance Global’s residual holdings no longer exist as a separate entity. Every single blind trust in Zurich has been frozen by federal marshals."
Richard’s face drained of what little color it had left. "You... you couldn't have cleared the compliance check that fast."
"I have friends in higher places than you do now, Richard," I said, taking a step closer. "The money in that escrow account? It was just flagged for international terrorism funding. Aegis Protocol’s bank accounts in Malta were seized thirty minutes ago."
Richard gasped, his chest heaving as he fumbled for the armrests of his chair. "No... no, that was my final move!"
"You forgot rule number one of corporate warfare," I whispered, leaning down so I was eye-to-eye with him. "Never use money you don't actually control."
Suddenly, Marcus’s radio crackled with high-pitched static.
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"Boss, we have a breach!" a voice barked through the comms. "Unidentified armed personnel entering the perimeter from the east gate!"
Richard looked up at me, a sinister grin spreading across his pale lips. "They don't care about the money anymore, Claire. I paid the retainer upfront. They're here to finish the job."
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