Chapter 3: The Unraveling of the Elite
Beatrice, sensing her social standing slipping away beneath the sudden shift in atmosphere, forced a brittle, shrill laugh. "Kaelen, darling, don't pay attention to this little nobody. She probably stole it from an antique shop downtown. Security is dragging her out right now, so let's—"
"Shut your mouth, Beatrice," Kaelen commanded without looking at her. The sheer menace in his tone caused Beatrice to physically recoil, her mouth snapping shut.
Kaelen stood up, towering over the terrified socialite. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a secure satellite communicator. He tapped a single button, connecting directly to his executive security detail stationed in the lobby and the command vehicles parked three blocks down.
"This is Kaelen Vance," he said, his voice ringing across the open-air terrace. "Execute Protocol Zero-Nine. Freeze every corporate asset, revoke every security clearance, and initiate immediate federal audits on the Vance Family Trust, all subsidiary accounts, and every donor list associated with tonight's gala."
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The blood drained from Beatrice’s face. "You... you can't do that! My father is a major stakeholder in your supply chain! You don't have the authority!"
Kaelen finally turned his gaze toward her, a smile devoid of all warmth touching his lips. "Authority? Beatrice, the man whose crest is engraved in this watch was the commander who signed off on the federal funding that built your family’s entire empire. And you just assaulted his only living daughter."
