Chapter 6 - Pandora’s Box of Wall Street
The morning sun beat down on the gravel courtyard as Adrian pulled a thick sheaf of printed financial records, bank statements, and wire transfer receipts from the manila envelope. The silence in the courtyard was absolute; even Victor Haines had stepped back, sensing that a catastrophic explosion was about to occur.
Adrian flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning the columns of numbers with the lightning-fast comprehension of a financial genius who could read balance sheets like poetry. Every muscle in his jaw tightened. The veins in his temples throbbed.
"Forty-two million, three hundred thousand dollars," Adrian read aloud, his voice dropping to a terrifying, arctic whisper. "Siphoned over thirty-six months through a network of shell companies registered in the Cayman Islands... diverted from the corporate expansion fund into private accounts under the beneficiary name *Vance Capital Holdings LLC*."
Gerald was still on his knees in the gravel, clutching his bruised wrist, sweating profusely despite the cool autumn air. "A-Adrian, please... those are forged! That girl hacked into the system, she planted those files to frame me! You know me! I’ve been your most loyal lieutenant for five years!"
"My loyal lieutenant," Adrian repeated, the words dripping with venomous sarcasm. He lowered himself until he was eye-level with Gerald, his steel-grey gaze locking onto the terrified COO. "You used my grief, Gerald. While I was mourning my sister, while I was stepping back from day-to-day operations to heal my soul, you turned my company into your personal piggy bank. You even bought a penthouse on Park Avenue and a yacht in Monaco using corporate development funds."
Gerald swallowed hard, his voice cracking into a desperate whine. "We can settle this quietly! We're partners—well, executive colleagues! Let me resign quietly, I’ll hand back the money, we don’t need to involve federal prosecutors—"
"Federal prosecutors?" Adrian stood up abruptly, tossing the papers onto the stone bench. "Gerald, you aren't just going to federal prison. You’re going to a maximum-security federal penitentiary where white-collar criminals are greeted with open arms by people who hate corporate thieves even more than street thugs do."
Adrian turned his gaze toward Victor Haines, who was desperately trying to blend into the brick wall behind him. "And as for you, Victor—using estate security resources to intimidate staff while helping my COO cover up financial crimes makes you an accessory. Pack your things. Both of you have twenty minutes to get off my property before I have you arrested for grand larceny and conspiracy."
Victor turned and bolted toward the staff quarters without uttering a single word. Gerald, realizing his glittering life of luxury had just evaporated into thin air, glared at Grace with pure, unadulterated murderous hatred.
May you like
"This isn't over, you little bitch," Gerald hissed venomously as Victor hauled him up by the collar. "You think you’ve won? You’re just a maid! When the people behind me find out about this, you won't last twenty-four hours outside these gates!"
Grace stared back calmly, untouched by his threats. "I’ve survived worse than you, Mr. Vance."
