Chapter 2: The Empire Evaporates
Julian’s laughter died in his throat as his phone—the one he used for business—began to vibrate. Then his tablet. Then the wall-mounted smart display flickered.
"What is this?" Julian muttered, swiping at his screen. "My access… it’s locked. Everything is locked."
"It’s not just your access," Elena said, smoothing her skirt. "It’s the company’s liquidity. The entire family portfolio is leveraged against a shell company that has been under my personal oversight for three years. You spent your life thinking you were the CEO of a titan industry. You were actually just a tenant in a building I’ve been gutting from the basement up."
May you like
Outside, the screech of tires echoed. Not police—the SEC, the forensic auditors, and the creditors. Julian’s face turned the color of ash. He looked at his mother, who had gone pale, clutching her pearls as if they were a life raft. "Mom, call the lawyers!"
"The lawyers are already in my office," Elena said, stepping toward him. "They’re finalizing your bankruptcy, not your defense."
