CHAPTER 4: SHADOWS OF SABOTAGE
A week had passed since the purge. The Vesper Room was flourishing under Ava’s iron but fair rule. The staff walked with their heads held high, and the clientele had shifted back from arrogant influencers to genuine creatives, business leaders, and artists.
However, wounded animals are the most dangerous.
In a dimly lit dive bar across town, Julian Vance sat with Sienna Vale. Both had been cast out of high society by the same woman, and both were burning with a desire for vengeance.
"She humiliated me in front of two million followers," Sienna hissed, aggressively swirling her cheap drink. "I lost three brand deals because of the rumors that I got blacklisted from Vesper."
Julian sneered, sliding a blueprint across the sticky table. "Ava thinks she’s untouchable because she holds the deeds. But a club’s true currency is its reputation. If its reputation dies, the club dies."
Tonight was the highly anticipated Vanguard Charity Gala, a massive event hosted at The Vesper Room, drawing the city's most elite politicians, celebrities, and philanthropists. It was Ava’s official debut as the reigning owner.
Julian outlined a malicious plan. He still had a cloned security keycard from his time as manager. He had paid off a disgruntled technician who was fired months ago to infiltrate the server room during the peak of the Gala.
"We cut the main power grid," Julian explained softly. "When the backup generators kick in, the system will automatically broadcast the 'entertainment' files to the massive LED screens."
"What files?" Sienna asked, her eyes gleaming with malice.
"Deepfaked audio and fabricated documents showing Arthur Monroe—Ava's precious father—colluding with organized crime to build the club," Julian smiled wickedly. "By the time the power comes back, the press will have photographed it all. Her family's name will be ruined, the investors will pull out, and she will be forced to sell the club for pennies. And I have buyers lined up."
Sienna grinned. "And I get to be the one to 'leak' the inside scoop on social media."
What Julian and Sienna did not realize was that true power does not just sit in boardrooms; it listens to the streets. Marcus Reed had spent twenty years in security. He had informants in every bar, valet stand, and back alley in the city.
An hour before the Gala began, Marcus stood in Ava’s private office, briefing her on Julian’s plot.
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Ava did not panic. She did not call the police to arrest them prematurely. A cold, brilliant smile spread across her face.
"Let them in, Marcus," Ava said quietly, adjusting her stunning emerald evening gown. "My father taught me that if you want to catch a rat, you don't chase it into the walls. You leave the cheese out, and you let it walk into the trap."
