Chapter 2: The Freeze
The black SUV sliced through the midnight streets without slowing once.
Mariana sat in silence, her cheek still burning from Andrew's slap.
She didn't touch the bruise.
She didn't wipe away the blood on her hand.
Instead, she watched the city lights blur past the window.
Across from her sat Victor Hale, chief legal counsel for Escalante Holdings.
He placed a thick folder on the leather seat between them.
"Everything is ready."
Mariana opened the file.
Inside were ownership agreements, trust documents, investment contracts, and signatures stretching back six years.
Andrew had always believed he built Kingston Technologies through talent and determination.
He never knew the emergency capital that saved the company during its first bankruptcy came from an anonymous investment fund.
He never questioned why banks approved impossible loans.
Or why investors kept believing in him after every mistake.
Every rescue had come from one source.
Mariana.
She looked at Victor.
"Has the board been notified?"
"They're already gathering."
"And the banks?"
"Every credit facility has been suspended pending review."
"What about the holding company?"
Victor allowed himself the smallest smile.
"They discovered tonight that Andrew owns only fifteen percent."
Mariana closed the folder.
"Good."
"By morning, he'll finally understand the difference between appearing powerful and actually being powerful."
At exactly 8:00 a.m., Andrew strode into his executive office expecting another ordinary day.
Instead, his security badge flashed red.
ACCESS DENIED.
He frowned.
"There must be some mistake."
The receptionist looked pale.
"Mr. Kingston..."
"The board is waiting upstairs."
"They asked that you surrender your company laptop."
May you like
For the first time in years...
Andrew felt uncertain.
