Chapter 3: The Federal Storm
By the time Julian and Eleanor gathered their senses, the world was already changing. Julian’s phone began to vibrate—a frantic barrage of calls from his lawyers and his panicked board members.
"They're raiding the headquarters," Julian whispered, clutching his phone as if it were a life raft. "How? How did she get the clearance for a federal raid?"
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Eleanor was pacing, her usual poise shattered. "She wasn't who she said she was, Julian. That girl... she was too smart. We were so arrogant we didn't even check the credentials we thought were fake. We were played."
The reality hit them like a physical blow: Clara wasn't just reporting them; she was handing over the entire history of their corruption. The "recording" wasn't just a threat; it was the final piece of evidence required to authorize the warrants. The FBI didn't just want the money; they wanted the family. Every illicit deal, every backroom bribe, and every destroyed competitor was now being cataloged in a federal database. The walls were closing in, and the architect of their ruin was already miles away.
