Chapter 15 - THE BROADCAST FROM THE SHADOWSArthur stared at the computer screen in utter disbelief. Julian Thorne—supposedly locked away in a maximum-security federal penitentiary for the next thirty years—was standing right there in a sleek leather jacket, looking healthier and more dangerous than ever.
The live feed audio clicked on, filling Arthur’s private study with Julian’s mocking laughter.
"Surprised, Arthur?" Julian’s voice echoed from the speakers, dripping with absolute malice. "Did you really think a little federal prison sentence could hold me? Money talks louder than prison walls, and Evelyn here happens to be a master of legal loopholes and judicial corruption."
"How are you out?" Arthur demanded, leaning toward the camera, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of the desk. "You were locked in solitary!"
"A simple body double, a few heavily bribed guards, and a quiet prison transfer in the dead of night," Julian sneered, stepping closer to the camera lens. "While you were busy playing doting father to a traumatized brat behind a wall, Evelyn and I were systematically buying up your board members one by one."
Julian gestured toward Marcus, who was thrashing against his restraints in the background.
"Your loyal lawyer here tried to blow the whistle two hours ago," Julian continued smoothly. "So we invited him over for a little chat. Now, here are your choices, Arthur. You can either sign over the remaining physical assets and sign the final corporate surrender documents blinking on your terminal right now... or watch your precious legal counsel become a permanent fixture of this concrete floor."
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The red countdown timer appeared at the bottom of the screen: 10:00... 09:59... 08:58...
Arthur’s heart hammered against his ribs. He looked at the terminal. If he signed away the shares, he would lose everything he had spent his entire life building. If he didn't, Marcus would die.
