Chapter 8 - Arthur Faces Imminent Financial Ruin
Across town in his Pacific Heights mansion, Arthur Sterling stared at his silent, glowing phone screen.
Every single investor had pulled out of his fund within thirty minutes of the dinner party ending.
His bank accounts were flagged for immediate federal compliance audits due to Marcus’s arrest.
The life he had built on ruthless ambition, status, and fake prestige was crumbling into dust.
He poured himself a glass of expensive bourbon, his hands shaking so violently he spilled half of it on the counter.
“It’s all her fault,” Arthur muttered to himself, his eyes bloodshot with sudden, blind rage.
He picked up his phone and dialed a private, unlisted number that connected straight to a discredited corporate fixer.
May you like
“I need you to dig up everything you can find on Lieutenant Commander Elena Vance,” Arthur hissed into the receiver.
“Destroy her military record, her reputation, whatever it takes.”
