Chapter 6 - The Traitor Inside the Gates
As the boardroom meeting collapsed into chaos, Julian noticed someone quietly slipping toward the side emergency exit. It was Bradley Thorne, the Chief Financial Officer who had served the Sterling family for over twelve years.
Julian moved with lightning speed, blocking the heavy fire exit door with his arm before Bradley could push it open. “Leaving so soon, Bradley? We haven't even reviewed the domestic wire authorizations for the third quarter.”
Bradley turned pale, clutching his leather briefcase to his chest like a shield. “I… I have an urgent client call in London, Julian, I was just stepping out to take it in private.”
Meredith walked over, accompanied by two armed private security officers who immediately flanked the trembling executive. “Drop the briefcase, Bradley, or we will have the building security team open it for you on the floor.”
Bradley hesitated for two agonizing seconds before his fingers went slack, allowing the heavy leather case to drop with a dull thud. Julian unzipped the compartment, pulling out two encrypted hard drives and a stack of forged corporate resolutions bearing his own forged signature.
“You authorized the emergency collateral transfer to Victoria’s shell company,” Julian said, his voice cracking with deep personal betrayal. “I trusted you with our father’s legacy, Bradley; I treated you like an uncle!”
Bradley hung his head in shame, unable to look into the eyes of the young man he had betrayed. “They had me trapped, Julian… Victoria bought my personal gambling debts in Macau five years ago… I had no choice!”
Meredith stepped closer, her expression devoid of pity. “You always had a choice, Bradley; you chose to sell your soul to the woman who killed your employer.”
Genevieve and Victoria stood near the main doors, watching their entire inside network collapse like a house of cards. Genevieve’s arrogance had completely evaporated, replaced by the raw, animal panic of a cornered predator.
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“You think you’ve won because you caught a weak accountant?” Genevieve sneered, trying to rally her dwindling defiance. “You still can’t touch my unborn child under Illinois family law!”
Meredith looked at Genevieve with chilling amusement. “Oh, sweet Genevieve, we are just getting started on your little medical miracle.”
