Chapter 5 - THE BOARDROOM COUP
Chloe snapped her head toward Daniel, her face turning pale beneath her heavy foundation. She grabbed her father's arm, her voice trembling violently as the executives around the table began whispering in shock.
"Dad, what is he talking about?" Chloe whispered frantically. "You told me those accounts were completely anonymous and untraceable!"
Senator Sterling’s confident smile instantly evaporated, replaced by a dark, dangerous glare. He glared at Daniel with pure hatred, realizing the trap had been laid long before last night's incident at the mansion.
"You orchestrated this entire setup, didn't you?" Sterling growled, his voice dropping into a raspy whisper. "You sent Elena undercover into my daughter's circle to extract those banking codes!"
Elena rested her chin on her linked fingers, her expression completely unreadable as she watched the Senator crumble. She leaned back in her high-backed leather chair, radiating absolute control over the room.
"You targeted my company through Chloe, thinking you could manipulate her into marrying Daniel and seizing control of my voting shares," Elena stated smoothly. "You simply never expected the maid you humiliated in the Hamptons to be the person holding your financial death warrant."
The lead federal prosecutor stepped forward, pulling a pair of steel handcuffs from his coat pocket. He placed his hand firmly on Senator Sterling's shoulder, signaling two armed agents standing by the door.
"Richard Sterling, you are under arrest for federal wire fraud, campaign finance violation, and conspiracy to commit grand larceny," the prosecutor announced clearly. "You have the right to remain silent."
Chloe let out a horrified scream as federal agents pulled her father's hands behind his back and snapped the steel cuffs around his wrists. The board members quickly stood up, pulling back from the table to distance themselves from the disgraced politician.
"Elena, please, help us!" Chloe begged, throwing herself toward the head of the table before Daniel stepped in her path. "I was just doing what my father told me to do!"
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Elena stood up slowly, picking up her leather portfolio without giving Chloe a single glance. She turned toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overseeing the mist-covered New York skyline.
"Your father's crimes are his own, Chloe," Elena said coldly. "But your arrogance was entirely your own creation, and now you will watch his empire fall from the gallery."
