Chapter 6 - The Confrontation
"Touch that desk, and you will spend the rest of your natural life in a federal penitentiary," Jonathan’s voice cut through the room like a thunderclap.
The two security guards stopped dead in their tracks. Jonathan’s tone wasn't just angry—it was lethal.
Jonathan walked straight up to Victoria Sterling, ignoring the alarm blaring above them. Daniel Price rushed into the room holding a master control key, instantly shutting off the sprinkler system and fire alarms.
The room fell into a heavy, dripping silence.
"You dare come into my lab, Victoria?" Jonathan asked softly, stepping into her personal space. "You bring hired muscle to intimidate an eighteen-year-old researcher?"
"She is an intern, Jonathan!" Victoria snapped, trying to maintain her composure. "She has no rights to any intellectual property created on company time! Under section four of our employment contracts, every schematic, sketch, and idea produced within a Bennett facility belongs exclusively to the corporation!"
"Is that so?" Annie’s voice echoed from behind them.
Annie stepped forward. She didn't limp. She didn't stagger. She walked with pristine, absolute balance on her new Phoenix leg.
She picked up her red notebook from the dry shelf where she had protected it.
"This notebook was bought three years ago at a convenience store with my own money," Annie said, her voice steady and unshakable. "Every drawing in here is dated, notarized by my community college professor, and registered with the U.S. Patent Office under my personal name six months before I ever set foot in Bennett Mobility Services."
Victoria’s face drained of color. "What?"
"She didn't steal your technical drawings, Victoria," Jonathan smiled coldly. "Your brother Richard stole hers. Three months ago, Richard found her notebook on her desk, photographed her valve-chamber designs, and tried to patent them under his own name to claim a corporate bonus. My audit team recovered the deleted digital files from his server two hours ago."
Victoria stammered, looking frantically at her guards. "That... that’s absurd! Richard wouldn't—"
"Richard did," Jonathan interrupted. "And because he used corporate infrastructure to commit patent theft from a minor, the board is currently convening an emergency meeting in Raleigh without you."
Daniel Price handed Jonathan a tablet. Jonathan glanced at it and handed it to Victoria.
"You have been removed as Chief Operating Officer, Victoria," Jonathan said plainly. "Your shares have been frozen pending a criminal investigation into corporate fraud, evidence tampering, and patent theft."
Victoria stared at the tablet screen, her hands trembling as her corporate world collapsed around her.
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"Escort Ms. Sterling off the premises," Jonathan ordered the security guards. "And if she sets foot on Bennett property again, have her arrested for trespassing."
The guards, realizing who actually held the real power, promptly grabbed Victoria’s arms and escorted her out of the building as she shouted threats into the empty hallway.
