Chapter 6 - The Fall of the Patriarch
The atmosphere in the private foyer flipped in a matter of seconds.
The senior police officer took a step back from Asher’s front door and turned his heavy body to face Julian Vance. "Mr. Vance, I need you to keep your hands where I can see them."
"Are you insane?!" Julian shouted, his voice cracking with panicked rage. "I am the CEO of Vanguard Holdings! This man is showing you a tampered video!"
"We'll let the forensic department figure that out, sir," the officer replied coldly, pulling his handcuffs from his belt. "In the meantime, you're coming with us down to Central Booking for questioning regarding the hit-and-run of Clara Vance."
"Brenda! Do your job!" Julian screamed at the CPS caseworker as the officer grabbed his wrist and forced his arms behind his back. "Take those kids!"
The caseworker stood frozen, terrified, looking at the video still playing on Asher’s phone, then looking at the powerful billionaire being cuffed in front of her. "I... I need to consult with county legal before enforcing this order," she stammered, backing away into the elevator cabin.
"Smart choice," Asher said flatly.
Within two minutes, the private elevator doors closed, taking the police, the caseworker, and a roaring, cursing Julian Vance down to the street level.
The foyer fell quiet again.
Vance let out a low whistle, shaking his head in sheer admiration. "Buying the traffic camera company, boss? That was a stroke of genius."
"I didn't buy the camera company, Vance," Asher admitted, adjusting his cuffs with a tired sigh. "I had my tech team deep-fake the driver's face onto the secondary feed thirty minutes ago to force the police to act."
Vance stared at his boss for a second, then let out a booming laugh. "You truly are a terrifying man, Mr. Hale."
"Go to the precinct," Asher instructed, his voice serious again. "Make sure our legal team meets them there. Ensure the real forensic evidence against Julian’s actual driver is handed over so the charges stick permanently. I want Julian Vance behind bars before the markets open tomorrow."
"Understood, sir," Vance nodded, stepping into the secondary service elevator.
Asher walked back through the heavy double doors into the penthouse living room.
The room was quiet. Mrs. Gable stood near the hallway, holding the hands of both little girls. Lily and Maya were wearing soft pink pajamas, their hair wet from a warm bath, looking up at Asher with wide, questioning eyes.
"Is the bad man gone?" Maya asked softly.
May you like
Asher walked across the white marble floor, dropped to his knees in front of them, and pulled both little girls into his arms, holding them so tightly he could feel their small hearts beating against his chest.
"He's gone, Maya," Asher whispered into her hair. "He's never coming back. Nobody is ever going to take you away from me."
