Chapter 8: Victoria’s Arrest
The heavy oak door of Victoria’s private office swung open without a warning knock. Two uniformed police officers stepped inside, followed closely by Detective Miller. Victoria was seated behind her polished mahogany desk, calmly signing documents as if the world outside wasn’t collapsing around her. She looked up, her expression hardening instantly.
"Can I help you officers?" Victoria asked, her voice dripping with artificial corporate charm. "You’re in a private building without an appointment."
"Victoria Hayes, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Clara Miller and the vehicular manslaughter of her unborn child," Detective Miller stated clearly, stepping forward and placing a pair of cold steel handcuffs on the edge of the desk.
Victoria stood up slowly, her white pants and black blazer projecting an aura of untouchable wealth and status. "This is absurd. It was a tragic accident in a public parking lot. My brakes failed. My lawyer will tear this case apart before the end of the day."
"Your car’s black box begs to differ," Detective Miller replied evenly, motioning to the officers. "Full throttle, zero braking, straight trajectory into a pedestrian walkway. Furthermore, your co-conspirator, Daniel Vance, has already given a full statement detailing the plot to intimidate Ms. Miller."
A flicker of genuine panic crossed Victoria’s face for a fraction of a second before she locked her features back into a mask of defiant coldness. "Daniel is a weak coward who will say anything to save his own skin. He planned the entire confrontation just as much as I did."
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"Then you can argue about who shares the blame in a court of law," Detective Miller said, signaling the officers.
The handcuffs clicked shut around Victoria’s wrists with a harsh, metallic snap. For all her money, her influence, and her carefully curated life, she was now just another suspect being led away in disgrace. As they marched her through the open-plan office where her employees watched in stunned silence, Victoria kept her chin high, though the empire she had built on greed and manipulation was already turning to ash beneath her feet.
