Chapter 9: Betrayal in Silk
Chapter 9: Betrayal in Silk
Vance grabbed Regina by the collar, dragging her through the blinding assault toward a secondary exit. They burst into the damp night air of a back alley, gasping for breath.
"We need to get to the jet," Regina wheezed, her bespoke tuxedo ruined, her hair plastered to her face with sweat. "Call the pilot."
Vance stopped. He looked at his phone, then looked at Regina. His expression had shifted from protective urgency to cold calculation.
"The board just convened," Vance said softly. "They’ve invoked the morality clause. You’re out, Regina. Effective immediately."
"They can't do that! I own the controlling shares!"
"Not anymore. The SEC just froze all your assets pending a federal investigation. The cartel leak triggered an immediate seizure." Vance took a step back, holstering his weapon. "I’m a fixer, Regina. But I can't fix a sunken ship. I've been offered a very generous severance by the board to walk away."
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Regina stared at him, the ultimate betrayal sinking in. "You're leaving me here? To them?"
"Consider it a business decision," Vance replied, turning his back and disappearing into the fog of the alleyway.
