Chapter 4 - THE CALL FROM THE ABOVE
The atmosphere in the room shifted from mockery to sudden discomfort,
as my cold gaze pierced through their elite arrogance.
A few guests lowered their phones,
realizing the legal implications of my quiet demand.
Kellen sneered at me,
setting his glass down on a silver tray with a loud clink.
"You think you can threaten us?"
he mocked,
stepping closer to his father's side.
Marcus stood tall,
adjusting his expensive silk tie,
completely unbothered by my request.
He looked down his nose at me,
his voice dripping with supreme contempt.
At exactly 12:14 a.m.,
while Marcus explicitly told me no one with money ever loses to someone like me,
the unexpected happened.
His private house line rang loudly through the silent foyer,
the sharp sound cutting through the tension.
The digital caller ID on the expensive wall screen flashed a prominent name,
a name he had never ignored a single time in his entire life.
BOARD CHAIR.
The words glowed brightly in the dimming light of the entryway.
Marcus frowned slightly,
his supreme confidence wavering for a brief second.
He walked over to the receiver,
waving a hand to silence the remaining guests.
He picked it up,
assuming it was a casual holiday greeting from his billionaire partner.
"Arthur,"
Marcus said,
his voice instantly smooth,
reverting to his professional persona.
But the voice on the other end was not offering holiday cheer,
it was vibrating with immense rage.
Even from a few feet away,
I could hear the muffled shouts leaking from the speaker.
The board chair had already seen a preliminary upload,
a short clip sent by an anxious guest who wanted to protect themselves.
Marcus's face drained of all its healthy color,
turning a sickly shade of ash gray.
He looked at me,
his eyes widening in sudden,
paralyzing realization.
May you like
The power dynamic in the room shattered instantly,
the perfect facade crumbling into dust.
