Chapter 6 - THE TRAP IS SET
The room was dead silent. My grandfather’s face had turned to stone.
"He thinks he has us cornered," Arthur said, his voice terrifyingly quiet. "He doesn't know who he’s dealing with."
"Grandfather, wait," I said, rising from my chair. The fear that had briefly gripped my chest was rapidly replaced by a cold, surgical fury. They had brought my children into this. That was the ultimate mistake.
"Julian!" I called out.
Julian rushed into the library within seconds. "Yes, Ms. Sterling?"
"Trace the IP routing of that video transmission. I know Victor used a proxy server, but he made a mistake."
"What mistake?" Julian asked.
"Natalie was standing near a window in that video," I said, my sharp eye for design detail taking over. "Behind her was a shadow cast by a distinctive triangular architectural beam. That beam only exists in one place in the industrial district: the abandoned Blackwood Logistics Hub on Pier 42."
Julian smiled thinly. "I'll have the tactical team ready in five minutes."
"No," I said. "Don't send the tactical team yet. Victor wants a trade. Give him the file."
Arthur turned to me, stunned. "Audrey, you can't give him the proprietary technology! That took you four years to develop!"
"I’m not giving him my technology, Grandfather," I said, a dark smile spreading across my lips. "I’m giving him the corrupted version."
I walked over to my desk and pulled up my master design drive. "Two months ago, when I realized Dominic was attempting to steal my intellectual property, I created a dummy encrypted file. It looks identical to the master patent, but embedded within its core code is a self-replicating zero-day virus."
I looked at Julian. "The moment Victor downloads that file to his corporate servers to test the formula, it will completely wipe Blackwood Pharmaceuticals' primary database, execute an automated broadcast of their internal emails to the SEC, and permanently lock their financial networks."
"A Trojan horse," Arthur chuckled, his eyes lighting up with pride. "My girl."
"And what about Dominic?" Julian asked.
"Dominic thought I was helpless," I said, picking up my coat—the very same ivory cashmere coat that had been recovered from Natalie. "It’s time I show him what happens when you push a mother too far."
Forty minutes later, a heavy black SUV pulled up to the rusted gates of Pier 42. Rain poured in sheets, lightning flashing across the dark sky.
I stepped out of the vehicle alone, carrying a sleek silver flash drive in my hand. Inside the towering, decaying warehouse, the air smelled of salt, rust, and oil.
Victor Blackwood stood near the center platform, flanked by four armed guards. Natalie stood beside him, clutching a tablet, while Dominic remained tied to the chair, sobbing uncontrollably through his gag.
"You came alone," Victor said, stepping forward, a cruel smirk on his face. "Impulsive. Just like your father was."
"Let Dominic go, and delete the medical data," I said, holding up the flash drive. "The entire tech stack for Aura Couture is on this drive. It contains the chemical formulas, the manufacturing patents, and the mass-production blueprints."
Natalie took the drive from my hand, rushing over to Victor’s terminal to plug it in.
"Verifying encryption key..." Natalie whispered, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "It’s... it’s all here! The full biomaterial synthesis!"
Victor laughed out loud, a sound of triumph echoing through the cavernous space. "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! With this technology, Blackwood will dominate the market for the next thirty years!"
He looked down at Dominic, then back at me. "You really are a fool, Audrey. Did you actually think I would let you walk out of here alive?"
Victor signaled to his guards. They raised their weapons, pointing them straight at my chest.
Dominic’s eyes went wide with terror, shaking his head frantically against his bindings.
I didn't blink. I didn't flinch.
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I simply looked at my watch.
"Three... two... one," I counted softly.
