Chapter 6 - THE GALA TRAP
The night of the gala, the Grand Ballroom of the Cole Meridian building was transformed into a glittering sea of diamonds, tuxedos, and champagne. The elite of the tech world were present. I was dressed in a standard-issue black suit that Vivian had bought for me, feeling like a spy in enemy territory. I stood by the service doors, an earpiece connecting me directly to building maintenance.
Vivian entered, looking radiant in a sweeping emerald gown, holding Eli’s hand. Eli wore a soft, tagless suit we had specially tailored for him. He had his noise-canceling headphones on, blending in with a sleek, high-tech aesthetic. He looked calm. He held his silver ball bearing in his free hand, turning it over and over.
Richard was holding court near the stage, sipping scotch, surrounded by board members. When he saw Vivian and Eli, his eyes glinted with malicious anticipation. He checked his watch.
I tapped my earpiece. "Higgins, you in the AV room?"
"I'm here, Dale," my old supervisor crackled in my ear. I had brought him in on the plan. "But I'm locked out of the main soundboard. The event company Richard hired has a password on the master controls."
"Dammit," I muttered.
Vivian guided Eli toward the VIP table, smiling, shaking hands, playing the flawless CEO. She didn't know about the sabotage. I hadn't told her because I knew she would cancel the event, which would give Richard the ammunition he needed to say she was hiding her "broken" son. We had to beat him at his own game.
At exactly 8:00 PM, the lights dimmed. The keynote presentation was starting. Richard stepped up to the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Richard purred, his voice echoing through the massive room. "Welcome to the future of Cole Meridian. A future of strength, stability, and unyielding focus."
He looked directly at Vivian and Eli. He pressed a button on a small remote concealed in his hand.
Suddenly, the massive LED screens behind him erupted in a chaotic, high-contrast, flashing montage. The speakers let out a shrill, piercing electronic screech—a frequency specifically designed to be highly disorienting.
The crowd gasped, covering their ears.
Eli dropped his ball bearing. His eyes went wide with sheer terror. He clutched his head, opening his mouth in a silent scream, his body seizing up in the immediate, violent onset of sensory overload.
Vivian dropped to her knees, wrapping her arms around him, panic flooding her face. "Eli! Turn it off! Turn it off!" she screamed over the noise.
Richard feigned concern. "Oh dear, it seems the boy is having another one of his episodes. Is he safe to be here, Vivian?"
May you like
The board members whispered furiously. Cameras flashed. It was a perfectly executed character assassination.
I didn't think. I moved.
