Chapter 13
The air in the master suite grew thick with tension, the silence broken only by the faint hum of the HVAC system and the distant howling of the coastal wind against the balcony glass. Julian held his ground, his fingers tightening slightly around the manila envelope containing the probate seal.
"If I sign a receipt without verifying the underlying liabilities, the transaction is legally void under federal receivership guidelines," Julian said, his voice ringing with absolute, unyielding corporate authority. "Even your employers understand that an invalid signature won't hold up in international arbitration."
The lead enforcer narrowed his dark eyes, studying Julian with a mixture of professional respect and latent irritation. "You have thirty seconds to hand over the envelope, Mr. Vance, or we start taking inventory of smaller assets—starting with the infant sleeping in the east nursery."
Elena gasped aloud, taking a sharp step forward. "Leave the child out of this! He has nothing to do with the corporate holdings!"
"He has everything to do with compliance, Mrs. Vance," the enforcer replied coldly, taking a slow step into the room.
Julian didn't hesitate. With his free hand, he reached rapidly into the inside pocket of his dark shirt, his fingers wrapping around the small black recording device. Before the enforcer could react, Julian thumbed the playback button and tossed the device onto the plush carpet between them.
The tiny red LED flashed erratically against the wool fibers as the built-in speaker instantly broadcasted the crystal-clear audio file captured earlier that evening.
“You think Julian will find out about the trust... we’re both finished... He doesn't leave loose ends when it comes to his holdings...”
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The voices echoed clearly off the mahogany furniture and high ceilings of the master suite. The enforcer froze, his hand stopping halfway inside his wool overcoat. His professional composure fractured as he realized that the conversation—including his own associate's specific threats regarding the infant—was currently being broadcasted not just in the room, but via an encrypted live-stream uplink
[... đã cắt bớt, xem bản đầy đủ trong tệp trên máy ...]
