Chapter 18 - The Final Showdown Inside The Security Control Room
Marcus didn't wait for the firefighters to extinguish the basement flames; he ran back inside the main entrance toward the security bunker.
If Martha was heading anywhere to initiate the final corporate transfer, it would be the high-tech monitoring control room upstairs.
He took the grand staircase two steps at a time, ignoring the smoke alarms blaring shrilly throughout the burning east wing.
He reached the security bunker door, finding it unlocked and pushed wide open into the glowing red-lit interior.
Martha sat calmly in the executive leather chair before the central console, typing rapid commands into the master terminal keyboard.
"You can't stop the corporate transfer, Marcus... the digital signature was authorized the moment you opened that brown parcel," Martha smiled.
Marcus raised his sidearm, aiming directly at the master server tower beside her chair with an unyielding expression.
"Step away from the console, Martha, or I will destroy the primary data core right now," Marcus warned, his voice dead serious.
Martha paused her typing for a split second, looking up at him with cold, calculating eyes that showed no trace of remorse.
"If you destroy the core, the explosive charges wired to the penthouse panic room will detonate automatically," Martha threatened smoothly.
Marcus froze, his breath catching in his throat as he remembered Lily was still resting safely inside the top-floor suite.
"You wouldn't dare harm an innocent child just to settle a corporate grudge," Marcus growled, his knuckles turning white on his grip.
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"In war and business, Marcus, collateral damage is simply the price of absolute victory," Martha replied, hitting the final enter key.
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