Chapter 7 - The VaneCorp Ultimatum"Well, well, well," Victor Vance’s voice echoed sharply across the cavernous warehouse, amplified slightly by the acoustics of the metal walls. He didn't sign; he spoke aloud, knowing Clara could read his lips with practiced, effortless precision. "The prodigal niece and the ghost engineer. Family reunions are always so delightfully messy."
Ethan stepped in front of Clara, his body forming an immediate physical shield. His hands flashed a sharp, warning sign: Get back.
Victor chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "Put the soldering iron down, nephew. You really thought you could sneak past our digital perimeter with a flash drive? VaneCorp owns the backbone of every communication satellite over the Pacific Northwest. We knew you were coming before you even left Asterline Tower."
"You killed my father, Victor," Ethan signed, his hands moving with cold, lethal fury. "You burned Aegis Labs to cover up the safety failures."
"Your father was a romantic fool," Victor replied smoothly, pacing slowly around the halogen lights. "He wanted to give the translation tech away to hospitals for free. Business requires vision, Ethan. And right now, that vision requires Clara’s signature."
Victor pulled a thick leather-bound portfolio from under his arm and tossed it onto the metal server table. It slid across the surface and stopped inches from Clara’s hand.
"What is this?" Clara signed, her eyes locked on Victor’s face.
"It’s your resignation from Asterline Access Technologies, coupled with a full intellectual property assignment to VaneCorp," Victor said, smiling coldly. "Sign it, Clara, and walk away with your life and a comfortable severance package. Refuse, and these gentlemen will ensure that both you and your little maintenance worker suffer a very tragic, highly unfortunate industrial accident."
Clara looked down at the documents.
Her life's work. Her company. The software used by millions of deaf children and adults across the country. Handed over to the monsters who had caused Natalie’s deafness and murdered Aegis Labs in cold blood.
She reached out slowly. Her fingers brushed the edge of the paper.
Ethan glanced sideways at her, his jaw clenching. Don't do it, Clara, his hands flashed desperately. We can fight them.
"There is no one left to fight, Ethan," Clara signed back, her expression unreadable as she picked up a silver fountain pen from the table. "Asterline is gone. The board is ruined. This is over."
Victor smiled wider, stepping forward, his hand extended to take the signed document. "Smart girl. I always knew you had the discipline of a true executive."
Clara uncapped the pen. The metal click echoed sharply in the silent warehouse.
She hovered the tip of the pen over the signature line.
Victor leaned in closer, his eyes gleaming with greedy anticipation. "Sign it."
Clara looked up. She didn't look defeated. Her eyes burned with a terrifying, incandescent fire.
"I have one condition, Victor," Clara signed, her hands moving with absolute, razor-sharp precision.
May you like
Victor frowned. "At this stage, you don't get to negotiate."
"You’ll want to hear it," Clara replied, her voice steady and clear as she tapped the fountain pen against the paper. "Before I sign over the master encryption keys to VaneCorp... I want you to know who built the backdoor."
