Chapter 12
The safehouse basement was lit by a single overhead bulb, casting a stark white glow over the makeshift war room.
Marcus had spent the entire night decrypting the final layers of the flash drive data, compiling a master presentation for the upcoming shareholders' gala.
The waitress and Leo stood beside him, reviewing the synchronized video files, audio recordings, and banking logs that proved Victoria's guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt.
The Grand Meridian Hotel downtown was already filling up with wealthy investors, elite politicians, and corporate executives for the evening's high-profile charity auction.
Victoria Vance was scheduled to deliver the keynote address at 8:00 PM, announcing her fraudulent real estate acquisition to the entire business world.
"If we stream this data directly to the hotel's master projector system during her speech, every investor in that room will see the truth simultaneously," Marcus explained, pointing to a schematic of the hotel's AV network.
"How do we get into the AV control room without being recognized?" the waitress asked, tracing the blueprints with her finger. "Security will be tighter than a fortress after last night's fire."
"By using the one thing they won't expect," Leo said with a confident grin, holding up a freshly pressed white shirt and black vest. "The catering staff."
"It's risky," Marcus warned, looking gravely at the waitress. "If Victoria sees you before you trigger the system, security will lock down the building before we can broadcast."
"I'm not afraid of her anymore," the waitress replied, her voice steady and resolute. "She thinks she can intimidate everyone into silence. It's time she learned what accountability feels like."
Marcus nodded slowly, handing her a small, highly secure wireless transmitter disguised as a standard serving tray ornament.
"Plug this directly into the main media server behind the stage. It will override their firewall and broadcast our files straight to the big screens."
As the clock on the wall ticked closer to 7:00 PM, the trio packed their equipment into a nondescript duffel bag and headed out into the cool evening air.
The city was bustling with evening traffic, oblivious to the high-stakes drama about to unfold inside the glittering Grand Meridian Hotel.
They parked two blocks away from the venue, walking the final distance on foot to avoid drawing attention from corporate security patrols.
At the side service entrance of the hotel, a line of catering workers was streaming through the security checkpoint.
The waitress slipped neatly into the middle of the line, keeping her head down beneath a white server cap as she presented a forged employee ID badge.
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The security guard at the door glanced lazily at the badge, waved her through without a second look, and watched the heavy service doors close behind her.
Deep inside the grand ballroom, the lights dimmed as the introductory music swelled, signaling the beginning of Victoria Vance's keynote address.
