Chapter 4 - The Ghost of the Boardroom
Daniel stared at the blood-stained white rose resting on the silver tray inside the elevator car, his breath catching in his throat. The metallic scent of fresh iron drifted into the luxurious penthouse foyer, thick and sickeningly real.
"Daniel?" Ivy called out softly, stepping out of the living area, her bare feet making no sound on the concrete floor. "What is it?"
"Don't come closer," Daniel warned, his voice sharp as he kept the firearm raised toward the empty car. He reached out with his left hand, picking up the stem of the rose. Tucked beneath the thorns was a small, black USB flash drive, etched with the insignia of Vanderbilt Global Industries—a company that had been liquidated and absorbed following his brother Marcus's tragic death.
Ivy ignored his warning, walking up beside him. When she saw the blood and the flash drive, her hand flew to her mouth.
"That's Marcus's seal," Ivy whispered, her eyes widening in disbelief. "How is that possible? The board attended his memorial. We saw the casket."
"People fake deaths when billions are on the line," Daniel said grimly, his face carved from stone. He pocketed the flash drive and tossed the tainted rose into the nearby wastebasket. "My mother didn't just hate you because you were an outsider, Ivy. She hated you because your father was about to expose how Marcus embezzled Vanderbilt funds before he 'died.'"
"And now they think I have whatever files my father left behind," Ivy realized, a cold sweat breaking out across her skin. "The red envelope at the wedding wasn't just a warning. It was the opening salvo."
Daniel holstered his weapon, turning to look at her with fierce determination.
"We need to plug into the secure terminal in my study right now. If Marcus is alive, the board is compromised, and the entire foundation of our company is built on stolen ground."
They hurried down the dimly lit hallway into Daniel’s private study—a high-security bunker disguised as a library. Daniel slammed his palm against the retinal scanner, and the heavy titanium bookshelves swung inward. Inside, multiple monitors flickered to life, casting a harsh green glow across their faces.
Daniel slotted the black USB drive into the mainframe. A command line terminal immediately popped up, bypassing all firewall protocols with a terrifying efficiency.
Access Granted: Project Sterling.
Files began cascading down the screen at blinding speed—bank transfers, offshore shell company accounts, and encrypted audio recordings dated just three days prior. Daniel clicked on the most recent audio file, hitting play.
The speakers hissed with static before a cold, familiar voice filled the silent room. It was Eleanor Vanderbilt speaking to someone in the shadows.
"Once the wedding is over, plant the stolen files in Ivy's vanity. With Daniel distracted by the scandal, we'll force him out as CEO by morning, and Marcus can step back in to reclaim the throne."
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Ivy stared at the screen, her heart hammering against her ribs as she realized the true depth of the conspiracy. But before she could speak, the monitors suddenly flashed red, and every light in the penthouse instantly died.
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