Chapter 7 - The Final Gambit
With Eleanor facing life in prison for first-degree murder and conspiracy, and Julian locked away for massive financial fraud, the Escalando empire was completely dismantled. But one final piece remained on the board: Alexander Vance.
From his private mansion under house arrest, Alexander had been quietly using his remaining offshore accounts to orchestrate a massive short-sell attack on Vance Enterprises. He was determined that if he couldn't control the company, no one would—not even his own daughter.
It was 11:00 PM. Vivienne walked into her father’s private study. The room was dark, lit only by the glowing fire in the hearth. Alexander sat in his favorite leather armchair, a glass of scotch in his hand, looking broken yet defiant.
"You came to gloat," Alexander said without turning around.
"I came to finish this," Vivienne replied, walking over to stand opposite him by the fire.
"You think you’ve won because Eleanor is in chains?" Alexander chuckled bitterly. "She was a crazy woman driven by jealousy. But I built this empire, Vivienne. Every brick, every dollar. And as we speak, my automatic trades are dumping three hundred million shares onto the Asian markets. By the time the sun rises in New York, Vance Enterprises will be insolvent."
Vivienne looked down at her father with genuine pity. "You really don't get it, do you, Father?"
Alexander frowned, looking up at her. "Get what?"
"You spent your whole life thinking everyone around you was a piece on your chessboard," Vivienne said softly. "You thought Julian was your pawn. You thought Eleanor was your tool. You thought I was your prize."
She pulled out a small black tablet and slid it onto the table between them.
"What is this?" Alexander demanded.
"That is the live execution of Order 66," Vivienne said. "Three hours ago, I transferred all core intellectual property, algorithms, and real estate assets from Vance Enterprises into a new, private foundation—The Catherine Vance Trust."
Alexander’s glass slipped from his fingers, crashing onto the stone hearth and splashing amber liquid over his shoes. "You... you stripped the company?"
"I stripped the corporate shell you created," Vivienne corrected him. "The stock you are currently shorting in Asia is an empty hull. You are shorting your own debt, Father. You just spent your remaining three hundred million dollars buying worthless ghost stock."
Alexander gasped for air, clutching his chest as the full weight of his financial ruin hit him. "You... you destroyed my life’s work!"
"No," Vivienne said, leaning down until her face was inches from his. "You destroyed it when you decided my mother’s life and my happiness were acceptable losses for your balance sheet."
She stood up straight, smoothing down her jacket.
"The police will be here in ten minutes, Alexander," Vivienne added cold-bloodedly. "It turns out Eleanor didn't act alone twenty years ago. Her legal team just turned over the wire transfers showing you paid off the lead investigator to cover up the brake line tampering on Mother's car."
Alexander’s eyes widened in sheer, unadulterated terror. "Vivienne... please... I’m your father!"
"My father died the day he let Eleanor slap me in that foyer," Vivienne said quietly.
May you like
She turned on her heel and walked toward the heavy oak doors.
"Vivienne! Vivienne, don't leave me!" Alexander’s desperate screams echoed through the grand halls of the mansion, but she didn't slow her pace for a single second.
