Chapter 1: The Warrant
Damian’s phone continued vibrating in his hand.
Accounts closed.
Properties seized.
Contracts terminated.
Every notification delivered another piece of his destruction.
Then the boardroom doors opened.
Six people entered wearing dark suits. Two carried evidence cases. The woman leading them held up a federal identification card.
“Elena Voss?”
Elena turned calmly.
“I’m Elena Voss.”
“We have a court order temporarily suspending all extraordinary transactions authorized by Voss Global Holdings.”
Damian’s panic disappeared.
A slow smile spread across his face.
The lead investigator handed Elena a document.
“This includes the liquidation order you issued against Damian Cross.”
Julian Mercer, the chief executive of Voss Global, stepped forward.
“On what grounds?”
“Suspected market manipulation, unlawful asset seizure, and unauthorized transfers through multiple offshore entities.”
Elena read the first page without reacting.
Veronica moved closer to Damian.
“You thought you could destroy us without consequences,” she whispered.
Elena looked up.
“The liquidation was authorized under the cross-default provisions Damian signed himself.”
“That may be true,” the investigator replied. “But we have evidence suggesting you created the financial crisis that triggered those provisions.”
Damian gave a quiet laugh.
“You see?” he said. “She planned everything.”
Elena ignored him.
“What evidence?”
The investigator opened her case and placed several documents on the table.
Three months earlier, millions of dollars had been transferred from companies under Damian’s control into an unknown investment firm called Monarch Ridge Partners.
The transfers had weakened his businesses and activated the emergency clauses Elena had just used against him.
Every transfer carried Elena’s encrypted authorization.
Her digital signature.
Her private security key.
Her biometric confirmation.
“That’s impossible,” Julian said.
The investigator studied Elena carefully.
“We also recovered a recording in which you appear to instruct someone to move the money.”
Elena’s expression remained controlled, but her fingers tightened slightly around the document.
“Where did you get it?”
“An anonymous source.”
Damian leaned toward her.
“You should have finished the job before someone exposed you.”
The investigator handed Elena the final page.
It was not merely a request for information.
It was a warrant to search her offices, homes, vehicles, and private records.
At the bottom, beneath the judge’s signature, was one additional line.
May you like
Primary subject of investigation: Elena Voss.
And for the first time that evening, Damian looked powerful again.
