Chapter 5: The Ambush at Sterling Corp**
The next morning, rain lashed against the sleek glass high-rise of Sterling Financial in downtown Manhattan. Marcus Sterling sat in his corner office, swirling an espresso, admiring the city skyline.
The heavy double doors swung open unannounced.
Julian walked in, followed not by corporate lawyers, but by two forensic accountants and Detective Miller from the State Financial Crimes Division.
Marcus set his cup down slowly, maintaining a practiced grin. "Julian! Back from Europe early? We weren't scheduled to review the quarterly trust audits until Friday."
"The audit is happening right now, Marcus," Julian said, his voice deadly calm.
Detective Miller stepped forward, placing a federal search warrant on Marcus’s glass desk. "Mr. Sterling, you are being investigated for elder exploitation, grand larceny, and corporate embezzlement."
Marcus’s smirk wavered, his eyes darting toward his briefcase near the window. "This is absurd. Julian, if Chloe told you some nonsense—"
"Chloe is currently in holding at the county precinct," Julian interrupted. "And she gave the district attorney your personal encrypted drive password twenty minutes ago in exchange for a plea negotiation."
Marcus froze. The veneer of Ivy League sophistication vanished, leaving behind a desperate, cornered grifter.
"Julian, think about our firm... think about the stock valuation," Marcus stammered, raising his hands.
May you like
"I am thinking about my mother," Julian replied. "Take him away."
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