Chapter 14 - The Execution in the ValleyThe ambient chatter of the gala had died entirely.
"You hacked my private servers," Julian choked out, his voice barely a rasp, realizing his billion-dollar fortress had been breached in less than twenty-four hours.
"I didn't hack anything, Julian," David smiled—a terrifying, predatory expression. "My firm filed an emergency petition with the Ninth Circuit Court three hours ago. A squad of federal agents is currently executing a search warrant on your Silicon Valley headquarters. They already have the physical hard drives."
Julian turned wildly, looking for an exit, his eyes blazing with panic. "You idiots! You think you can destroy me? I have senators on my payroll! I will burn your lives to the ground!"
"You won't make it to a phone, Julian," I whispered, my eyes locking onto his with the cold, absolute finality of a closing coffin.
The heavy double doors of the hall swung open with a resounding thud.
A dozen armed federal agents marched into the room. The lead inspector walked directly toward our circle.
"Julian Vance," the agent announced, his voice echoing off the vaulted ceilings. "You are under arrest for international wire fraud, bribery of a federal official, and conspiracy to commit extortion."
The room descended into utter, chaotic silence. Julian did not go quietly. He completely devolved into a shrieking, feral animal as two officers seized his arms, snapping steel handcuffs over his wrists.
"Get your hands off me!" Julian screamed, his face contorted in an ugly, manic rage as the high-society elite watched in absolute horror.
David didn't flinch. He adjusted the cufflinks of his tuxedo, looking down at Julian with profound, clinical disgust.
As the police dragged the screaming tech mogul out through the grand doors, the elite power brokers of Silicon Valley stood frozen, staring at David and me in a state of absolute, unadulterated shock and reverence.
I turned back to the room, where the Asian tech conglomerates were still standing, their faces pale.
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"My apologies for the interruption, ladies and gentlemen," I said, offering the stunned room a radiant, devastatingly beautiful smile. "I believe this investment summit is officially concluded."
I took David’s arm, turned on my stiletto heels, and walked toward the exit. The war was over. The phantom was dead.
