Chapter 7 - The Counter-Lease

By the following week, the war had shifted from the streets to the banks.

Dojin did not return to Sinclair Tower. He ran his empire from a secured townhouse in Brooklyn Heights, overlooking the harbor. Grace stayed with him, her Stern classes forgotten as she worked sixteen-hour days beside him at the dining table, her laptop surrounded by cups of green tea and legal documents.

Seo Kang-dae, Dojin’s uncle, had launched a hostile takeover of Sinclair Holdings’ parent company in Seoul, trying to freeze Dojin’s assets before the New York transfer could be registered.

"He’s trying to starve us out," Dojin said, looking at the financial tickers on his screen. His shoulder was healing, though he still walked with a slight stiffness. "If my assets in Korea are frozen for more than forty-eight hours, the New York banks will recall the mortgage on Sinclair Tower. We will lose the building."

"They won't freeze them," Grace said, her fingers typing rapidly.

Dojin looked at her. "Why?"

"Because your uncle’s logistics company, 'Hanwon Shipping,' relies on New York Harbor for forty percent of its East Coast distribution," Grace said, turning her screen toward him. "And the lease on their terminal in Brooklyn? It’s owned by a subsidiary of Sinclair Holdings. The lease has a clause—Section 14-B—that allows the landlord to terminate the contract immediately in the event of an 'unauthorized change of corporate control.'"

Dojin stared at the screen, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his face.

"If your uncle tries to freeze your assets in Seoul," Grace said, "we terminate their Brooklyn lease. Their ships will be stuck in the harbor, losing two million dollars a day. They will be bankrupt before the Korean courts even open on Monday morning."

Dojin reached out, his hand catching the back of her neck, pulling her toward him until their lips were inches apart.

"You are a genius, Grace Holloway," he whispered.

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"I'm an auditor’s daughter," she said. "We don't like dirty books."

"Let’s call my uncle," Dojin said.