Chapter 4 - THE SECOND PLAN
Julian took the flash drive into his private office.
Serena followed despite being told to remain downstairs.
“I have a right to know what my brother is accused of.”
“You had a right to ask what he was planning before helping him.”
“I didn’t know about any flash drive.”
Julian studied her face.
For the first time, she looked less arrogant than afraid.
Noah connected the drive to an isolated laptop.
The first folder contained edited clips of Julian at restaurants, charity events, and construction sites.
Each video had been cut to make him appear angry, unstable, or intoxicated.
The second folder contained draft news articles.
RESTAURANT BILLIONAIRE ATTACKS WOMAN AFTER DECLINED CARD.
CROSS & EMBER OWNER HIDES FINANCIAL COLLAPSE.
INVESTORS QUESTION JULIAN CROSS’S FITNESS TO LEAD.
Serena sat down slowly.
“My brother said you were cheating investors.”
“And you believed humiliating me online would protect them?”
“He said you had buried losses.”
Julian opened the last file.
It was a schedule.
At 9:30 p.m., a false emergency alert would be triggered inside Ember House.
At 9:34, someone would enter the accounting office during the evacuation.
At 9:40, financial records would be copied and several original contracts removed.
Julian checked the clock.
It was 9:26.
A fire alarm screamed through the restaurant.
Red lights began flashing.
Guests jumped from their seats.
Pike shouted for everyone to use the front exit.
Julian ran into the hall.
“No evacuation through the west corridor!”
But the crowd had already begun moving.
In the confusion, a man wearing a fire department jacket slipped through the service door.
Noah pointed.
“He’s going toward accounting.”
Julian chased him past the kitchen.
The man reached the locked office and pulled out a copied access card.
Julian caught the door before it closed.
The intruder swung a metal flashlight.
Julian ducked, drove his shoulder into the man’s chest, and forced him against the wall.
The jacket tore open.
He was not a firefighter.
He was Cross & Ember’s former chief financial officer, Adrian Cole.
Adrian smiled through a split lip.
“You’re guarding the wrong room,” he said.
A crash sounded upstairs.
Julian looked toward the private office.
May you like
Serena was gone.
So was the original flash drive.
