Chapter 6: The Dragon at the Door
The heavy mahogany doors of the penthouse office swung open without a knock. Victoria swept inside, flanked by three senior board directors and a phalanx of private security.
"Marcus, what is the meaning of this circus?" Victoria demanded, tossing a tablet onto the coffee table. "The financial markets are in freefall. Vance Dynamics stock plunged eleven percent the second you walked off that stage. The Saudi consortium is threatening to pull their forty-billion-dollar backing by market open tomorrow!"
Leo immediately stepped in front of Toby, shielding his brother’s injured arm.
Marcus stood up slowly. His face had hardened into stone. "Victoria, when Arthur Campbell died in Sector 4, what happened to his survivor pension?"
Victoria’s gaze flicked to the boys, then narrowed into cold calculation. "We settled all liability claims according to standard protocol. That was twelve years ago, Marcus. Ancient history."
"You stamped his claim *'Operator Negligence.'* You framed the man who saved my life to protect a thirty-million-dollar insurance settlement."
"I protected *you*!" Victoria hissed, stepping closer, lowering her voice so the board members couldn't hear. "If we admitted the coolant valves had failed due to your early prototype design flaw, you would have spent the last decade in federal prison for manslaughter! I buried the report, pinned it on the janitor, and built this empire alongside you! You owe me your entire existence!"
Marcus stared at her, feeling a profound chill settle into his bones. He realized with terrifying clarity that his whole empire had been built on a lie manufactured by the woman standing before him.
"You didn't protect me, Victoria," Marcus said softly. "You protected your shares."
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"Choose your next words very carefully, Marcus," Victoria said, leaning in. "You sign that merger tomorrow at 8:00 AM, or the board votes you out as CEO for mental incompetence. And these two little street rats? Child Protective Services is already downstairs waiting to take them into state custody."
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