flash
The heavy mahogany doors of the mansion swung open, and the flashing red and blue lights of the Denver Police Department painted the opulent foyer in urgent, glaring strokes. / Chapter 3 / 6

Chapter 3 - The Morning After the CollapseAt 8:00 AM sharp, my phone began to buzz furiously on the nightstand.

I woke up, feeling the dull ache of the stitches above my eye, but my mind was razor-sharp. I checked the screen: Victoria Hayes Calling.

I declined the call.

Ten seconds later, it rang again. Then came a string of frantic text messages:

Victoria: "Valerie, pick up this instant! Diego spent the entire night in a holding cell. The bail bond agents are refusing to touch his case! What have you done?!"

Victoria: "Your father-in-law is furious. If you don't drop these ridiculous charges and sign the condo transfer papers by noon, we will ruin your career. We will ensure no firm in Colorado ever hires an architect named Valerie Hayes again!"

I let out a cold, humorless laugh, typed out a single response, and hit send:

Me: "Tell your husband and your golden boy to enjoy their breakfast. They’re going to need the energy for federal prison."

I blocked her number, rolled out of bed, and poured myself a cup of black coffee. As I stood by my floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the Denver skyline, my phone buzzed with an alert from a local financial news app.

BREAKING NEWS: Federal agents execute early morning search warrants at the corporate headquarters of Hayes Global Enterprises. CEO Richard Hayes and executive board members facing immediate questioning amid allegations of multi-million-dollar fraud.

I took a slow sip of my coffee, watching the live helicopter footage broadcasted on the news channel. Sirens flashed outside the glass monolith of Hayes Global. Federal agents in windbreakers were carrying out boxes of evidence, hard drives, and corporate ledgers.

Richard Hayes, the untouchable titan of Denver real estate, was being led out of his own building in handcuffs, shielding his face with a custom leather folio.

My phone rang again. This time, it was my boss at Vanguard Design.

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“Valerie,” my boss said, sounding breathless. “Are you seeing this? The FBI just raided Hayes Global. They’re asking for all architectural blueprints, financial sign-offs, and compliance logs. Your name is listed as the primary project lead on the audited files. Are you okay?”

“I’m more than okay, David,” I said calmly. “In fact, I’m coming into the office today. And I’m bringing a complete restructuring plan that cuts Hayes Global out of our portfolio entirely.”

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