Chapter 7 - The Mask Falls OffMarcus staggered backward, colliding against the metal wall of a cargo container. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.
“J-Jackson?!” Marcus choked out, his eyes darting frantically around the empty alleyway as if expecting a ghost to materialize. “No... that’s impossible. You were supposed to be on medical leave in Zurich—!”
“I was right here,” I replied, stepping closer, every word hitting like a physical blow. “Living on a forklift salary, sleeping three hours a night in a cramped apartment, eating microwave dinners, and listening to the dedicated workers of my company talk about how the corporate tower treats them like disposable machinery.”
Marcus swallowed hard, panic overriding his shock as he tried to regain his footing. “Jackson, listen to me—it’s a misunderstanding! The restructuring... the offshore accounts... it was all structured to protect the company from tax exposure during the acquisition! Julian forced me into it—!”
“Julian?” I cut him off, my voice dropping to a lethal whisper. “My brother is involved, yes. But you were the CEO’s right hand, Marcus. You signed the wire transfers. You hired thugs like Brent to threaten our people. And you planned to frame me for felony embezzlement.”
Brent groaned from the concrete floor, clutching his ribs, staring up at me in absolute horror. “The... the CEO? You’re Reed?!”
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“Get up, Brent,” I told him coldly. “You’re about to have a very long conversation with federal investigators.”
Just then, the wail of approaching sirens echoed down the industrial access road.
