Chapter 9 - The House of CardsThe immediate aftermath of the auction was a bloodbath of epic proportions.
When the financial press realized Vanguard had massively, inexplicably overpaid for a toxic asset, the company’s stock plummeted by twenty percent in a single afternoon. Wall Street analysts tore Eleanor’s leadership to pieces on national television.
I was sitting in my penthouse, sipping a celebratory glass of champagne with Julian, watching the news coverage, when my private cell phone rang. It was the Vanguard Board of Directors.
"Ms. Mercer," the Chairman of the Board’s voice sounded incredibly strained. "We have a catastrophic situation on our hands. Eleanor Vance has severely compromised our financial standing. We are initiating an emergency vote of no confidence to remove her as CEO."
"I am aware of your situation," I replied smoothly, crossing my legs. "But why are you calling me?"
"Because we know how she got the eighty-five million dollar figure," the Chairman sighed deeply. "Our internal IT department flagged a massive data transfer from an external IP address this morning. David Caldwell used stolen, manipulated insider information to convince Eleanor to place the ninety million dollar bid. It is corporate espionage, and it has destroyed our quarter."
"It seems you have a criminal on your payroll," Julian interjected, leaning into the speakerphone. "As Ms. Mercer’s lead counsel, I must inform you that we have documentation proving David Caldwell bribed one of our employees for that information. We are preparing to hand the evidence over to the FBI."
"Please, wait!" the Chairman begged, the desperation palpable. "If the FBI raids Vanguard, the scandal will ruin us completely. We want to make a deal."
"I don't make deals with companies that try to orchestrate hostile takeovers against me," I said coldly.
"We will sell you the Sterling Tower," the Chairman blurted out. "We will transfer the deed to Elysium Estates for exactly what you bid. One dollar. We will absorb the ninety million dollar loss completely, just to get the toxic asset off our books before the quarterly earnings report. In exchange, you sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding the corporate espionage, keeping the FBI out of our lobby."
Julian and I locked eyes. The sheer brilliance of the victory sent a shockwave of adrenaline straight to my toes. I had just acquired the most valuable piece of real estate in the city for the cost of a cup of coffee.
"Have the transfer deeds on my desk by 8:00 AM tomorrow," I commanded, and hung up the phone.
While I was securing the empire, David’s world was entirely collapsing.
An hour later, the heavy brass knocker on my penthouse door echoed through the hallway. Julian walked over and opened it.
Standing in the hallway was David. He looked completely unhinged. His tie was loosened, his hair was a mess, and he was sweating profusely.
"Elena!" David shouted, trying to push past Julian, but Julian’s massive frame completely blocked the doorway. "Let me talk to her! Please!"
I walked over, holding my champagne glass, looking at the pathetic, broken man who had once tried to convince me I was nothing without him.
"Eleanor fired me," David sobbed, genuine tears of panic streaming down his face. "She didn't just fire me, Elena. She called the police. She’s blaming the entire auction disaster on me! She told the board I acted alone and manipulated her! I have nothing! My bank accounts are frozen, they are evicting me from the apartment... please, you have to help me! I’m the father of your child!"
"You lost the right to call yourself a father the day you tried to steal from her mother," Julian said, his voice a low, lethal rumble.
"You did this to me!" David screamed, pointing a trembling finger at me. "You set me up! You fed me fake numbers!"
"I didn't force you to bribe my employee, David," I replied, my voice echoing with absolute, uncompromising finality. "I didn't force you to try and steal my company. You dug your own grave. I just handed you the shovel."
"Please!" David dropped to his knees right there in the hallway, grabbing the edge of the doorframe. "I have nowhere to go! I’m going to prison!"
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"Then I suggest you get a good lawyer," I smiled coldly. "Because my attorney is currently off the clock."
I gently pushed Julian back, reached out, and slammed the heavy oak door shut, locking the deadbolt with a satisfying click. The ghost of my past was finally, permanently exorcised.
