Chapter 7 - The Courtyard Execution
The grand courtyard of the Sterling Palace was crowded with over a hundred journalists, financial analysts, and television crews. The iron gates were heavily secured by private tactical teams, the atmosphere thick with anticipation.
Richard and Victoria Vance stood at the back of the media crowd, hiding behind dark sunglasses, waiting to witness the final fall of the Sterling empire. Victoria had a smug, victorious smile on her lips, convinced that Elena would be led out in handcuffs by the end of the afternoon.
Alexander walked out onto the marble portico alone. He didn't look like a man under investigation; he looked like an emperor reviewing his troops. He stood before the wall of microphones, his eyes scanning the crowd until they settled directly on Richard Vance.
"For the past forty-eight hours, the media has been flooded with allegations regarding a security breach inside this palace," Alexander began, his deep voice carrying flawlessly over the high-powered speaker systems. "You have been told that a member of my staff, Miss Elena Winters, attempted to harm my mother for financial gain."
The cameras flashed aggressively, reporters shouting questions, but Alexander raised a single hand, and the crowd instantly fell silent.
"However, the Sterling Security Network does not simply monitor the interior of this palace," Alexander continued, nodding toward the massive video screen behind him. "We monitor the digital footprint of every entity that enters our ecosystem. Marco, play the log."
The screen lit up with a crystal-clear, high-definition recording. It wasn't from the palace; it was an intercepted security feed from the private lounge downtown where Richard and Victoria had planned the conspiracy. The audio was flawless, Victoria’s voice echoing across the courtyard: "We need a scandal... If we can make it look like she is poisoning the old woman... we can freeze Alexander’s personal trusts."
The crowd of journalists let out a collective, breathless gasp. The cameras instantly pivoted away from Alexander, turning their lenses toward the back of the courtyard where Richard and Victoria stood.
May you like
"Furthermore," Alexander’s voice cut through the shouting like a guillotine, "federal marshals have just raided the offices of Vance Industries. The documentation linking the two hundred thousand dollar bribe to Detective Harrison’s private account has been seized. Harrison is currently in custody, and warrants have been issued for the immediate arrest of Richard and Victoria Vance for corporate espionage, manufacturing false evidence, and attempted extortion."
Victoria shrieked as four federal marshals stepped out from the side gates, intercepting her and her father before they could reach their sedan. The handcuffs clicked into place in front of every major news camera in the country. The Vance family’s destruction was total, public, and absolute.
