CHAPTER 17
The revelation hung between us,
cold and terrifying.
Ethan leaned closer to the glass,
his breath fogging the clear surface.
"He doesn't just want the company,
Emily,"
he whispered,
his eyes wide with manic energy.
"He wants the ledger your father kept,
the one with the names of every corrupt official."
"If he gets that ledger,
he becomes completely untouchable."
I kept my expression neutral,
refusing to show that I already possessed it.
"Where is the vulnerability,
Ethan,"
I demanded,
pressing the receiver to my ear.
"Every empire has a weakness,
tell me his."
Ethan stared at me for a long time,
as if measuring my resolve.
For the first time,
I saw a flicker of respect in his eyes.
"He is arrogant,"
Ethan finally said,
his voice dropping even lower.
"He believes he is a god among men,
and he never expects a counter-attack."
"His main financial node is in Switzerland,
an automated server that processes the payments."
"If you can shut down that node,
his entire liquidity dries up in minutes."
"And without money,
his lawyers and politicians will vanish like smoke."
The guard tapped on the glass,
signaling that our time was up.
Ethan slowly stood up,
his chains rattling against the metal chair.
"If you survive this,
Emily,"
he murmured,
his smile returning with a twisted edge.
"Remember that I am the one,
who gave you the weapon."
"I didn't do it for you,"
I countered,
standing up to face him.
"I did it for justice."
I hung up the receiver,
turning my back on him for the final time.
As I walked out of the room,
I felt a strange sense of closure.
The man who had haunted my dreams,
was now nothing more than a broken prisoner.
I emerged into the reception area,
where Liam immediately rushed to my side.
"Are you okay,"
he asked,
searching my face for signs of distress.
"I am better than okay,"
I replied,
a confident smile appearing on my face.
"We have the location of his heart,
and now,
we are going to pierce it."
We left the prison behind,
the vehicle speeding toward the airport.
May you like
The battle was shifting to a global stage,
and we were ready to take the leap.
