Chapter 7 - The Corporate War BeginsBack at the downtown headquarters of Mercer Global, a storm was brewing.
Gregory Vance sat in his high-floor executive office, staring at his computer screen in sheer, unadulterated panic. His company bank accounts had been frozen by federal mandate. His corporate lines of credit had been instantly revoked by Mercer Global. Million-dollar real estate deals he had spent months negotiating were collapsing like houses of cards.
Ring, ring!
Gregory snatched up his desk phone. “Vance Investments! Explain to me why my accounts are locked—!”
“Mr. Vance?” a cold, robotic voice interrupted from the other end. “This is the legal compliance division of Mercer Global. Your commercial lease on this building has been terminated effective immediately. You have two hours to clear your desk.”
“Terminated?!” Gregory shrieked. “On what grounds?! You can’t do that! We have a five-year contract!”
“Section 14, Paragraph B: Clause of Moral Turpitude and Public Disgrace,” the voice replied calmly. “Mr. Silas Mercer does business with individuals who possess basic human decency. You failed that requirement last night on Fifth Avenue.”
Click.
The line went dead.
Gregory dropped the phone, his face turning the color of curdled milk. Fifth Avenue...?
The memory rushed back. The snow. The little girl selling cheap flowers. The man in the dark overcoat who had offered fifty dollars.
Silas Mercer.
He had stepped on flowers sold by the adopted daughter—or protégé—of one of the most powerful billionaires on the planet.
May you like
Before Gregory could even grab his briefcase, the heavy oak doors of his office swung open. Marcus Cole walked in, flanked by two burly security guards.
“Mr. Vance,” Marcus said coldly, dropping a cardboard box onto his glass desk. “Time to go.”
