Chapter 7 - Logistics Lockdown and the Total Supply Collapse
The next morning, the sun rose over a city in total shock.
While Flora rested comfortably in the master suite of the penthouse at the Sterling Grand Tower—tended to by the family’s top private physicians—the Vance family woke up to an unprecedented nightmare.
Isaac rushed to the Vance Construction Group headquarters downtown at 7:00 AM, only to find the entire fifty-story skyscraper surrounded by armed private security contractors wearing black uniforms with the Sterling insignia.
Dozens of company executives, project managers, and engineers were gathered on the sidewalk, unable to enter the building.
“Get out of my way!” Isaac yelled, trying to push through the barricade. “I am the CEO of this company! You have no right to lock me out!”
The glass doors slid open, and Leo Sterling stepped out, flanked by two corporate officers.
“Correction, Isaac,” Leo said, holding up a certified corporate resolution. “As of 6:00 AM, the Board of Directors convened an emergency meeting without you, utilizing the proxy voting rights forfeited by your father’s loan default. You have been officially stripped of your title as CEO. You are no longer an employee, shareholder, or representative of this firm.”
“You can’t do this!” Isaac shouted, saliva flying from his lips. “I have projects across three states! The concrete pours for the Metro Rail project are scheduled for 9:00 AM today! If those trucks don’t roll, the city will sue us for fifty million dollars!”
Leo smirked, checking his gold watch. “Those trucks aren't rolling. The concrete batch plants are owned by Sterling Materials. The fuel supply for your transport fleet has been halted by Sterling Logistics. And the harbor tugboats carrying your prefabricated steel beams have been ordered to remain at sea.”
Isaac grabbed his hair, his mind fracturing under the sheer scale of the shutdown. “You’re sabotaging the entire city’s infrastructure just to get back at me?!”
“No,” Leo replied coldly. “We’re protecting the city from substandard materials authorized by a corrupt, incompetent boy who spent company funds on his mistress instead of quality control. The city government has already terminated your contracts and re-awarded them to Sterling Infrastructure.”
Isaac’s phone began buzzing incessantly in his pocket. It was his lead project manager on the Metro Rail site.
Isaac answered in a panic. “What is it?!”
“Isaac, federal safety inspectors just condemned Sector 4! They found counterfeit rebar that you ordered from overseas! The feds are issuing arrest warrants for the entire executive committee!”
The line went dead.
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Isaac dropped the phone. It clattered against the pavement, the screen splintering into a spiderweb of cracks.
Leo leaned down, his voice chillingly calm. “Run along, Isaac. Go home and pack your bags. Oh wait... you don't even have a home anymore.”
