Chapter 3 - The Trojan Horse
The study laptop wasn't just open; it was loaded with a keystroke logger and a mirroring protocol connected directly to Lena Ortiz’s terminal at the fraud division.
Daniel thought he was quickly deleting the incriminating shell company transfers before I could show them to his mother. In reality, by accessing the hidden accounts using his biometric security dongle and master passwords from my device, he was certifying his ownership of the illegal funds in real-time.
From the dining room, I listened to the rapid clicking of the keys. Vivian leaned back, sipping her wine. "You’re a quiet girl, Clara. It’s a shame your family didn't leave you with more than this miserable flat, but at least you’re smart enough to obey a husband who can provide for you."
"Daniel is very... thorough," I replied smoothly.
Daniel returned to the table, a slight sweat on his brow but a triumphant look in his eyes. "All fixed, Clara. Just a minor glitch. Now, let's sign those papers."
He pulled out the legal documents transferring my apartment into Aegis Holdings. I took the pen. My hand didn't shake this time. I signed my name—not with my legal signature, but with a highly stylized variation I had practiced, one that any forensic handwriting analysis would later invalidate as signed under duress, backed by the medical reports from that morning.
Vivian snatched the papers away, her eyes gleaming with greed. "Smart girl. Now, Daniel, we must prepare for the board audit tomorrow. The auditors are looking into the logistics budget."
"Don't worry, Mother," Daniel said, looking at me with absolute contempt dressed up as affection. "Everything is perfectly hidden."
After they left, Daniel didn't even stay to help clean. He grabbed his coat. "I have a meeting. Keep the makeup on. If I see you crying when I get back, we’ll have another conversation like last night."
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The moment the door locked, my smile vanished. I wiped the heavy makeup off my face, exposing the ugly truth once more. I opened my laptop. A message from Lena was already waiting: 'We got it all. Every password, every offshore account, and the complete paper trail of him stealing thirty million from Aegis Holdings. We’re ready to move.'
"Not yet," I whispered to the empty room. "I want them to feel the floor drop from beneath their feet."
