Chapter 2: Protocol Zero
Richard laughed, a harsh, dismissive sound. "My company. My blood, my sweat. You were just a placeholder."
Elena reached into her blazer pocket. She pulled out a sleek, minimalist phone. She didn't look at it, didn't swipe, didn't hesitate. She looked directly at her father.
"Initiate Protocol Zero," she said clearly.
The room went deathly still. Richard’s phone buzzed. Then Lydia’s. Then the landline on the mahogany table began to wail with incoming priority notifications.
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"What is this?" Lydia asked, her smile faltering as she glanced at her screen. Her face turned ashen. "Richard... the accounts. They’re... they’re zeroed out."
Elena stood up, smoothing her skirt. "Protocol Zero isn't a resignation. It’s a liquidation of assets. Every holding, every subsidiary, and every offshore account you thought belonged to this firm was re-routed into a trust you don't have access to—six months ago."
