Chapter 9 - THE FALL OF VICTORIA
The fallout in the following weeks was monumental. The news of the attempted robbery and corporate espionage hit the Chicago business world like a tsunami. Victoria Hargrove and her accomplices were indicted on a laundry list of federal charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, corporate espionage, and armed robbery.
Victoria’s high-society friends abandoned her instantly. The "perfect match" the lifestyle magazines had praised was revealed to be a calculated, predatory con. She was denied bail, her pristine reputation shattered forever as she awaited trial in a federal holding facility.
Marcus ruthlessly purged his company and his life. He fired his entire executive security team for failing to properly vet Victoria. He completely restructured the board, removing anyone who had ties to the rival logistics firm that had funded the hit. He worked late, he worked hard, but something fundamental had shifted in his routine.
He no longer worked alone in the oppressive silence of his massive study.
A month after the incident, it was a rainy Tuesday afternoon. Marcus was on a tense video call with international suppliers, negotiating shipping routes through Europe.
"The tariffs are unacceptable," Marcus said into the microphone, his business voice sharp and commanding. "If you can't lower the rate by four percent, we walk away from the table. We have other options."
"Mr. Whitmore, please," the supplier argued on the screen. "Four percent leaves us with zero margin. We must be reasonable."
Before Marcus could respond, a small figure marched into the camera's view. Lily, wearing denim overalls and holding a bright red plastic dinosaur, climbed onto the empty chair next to Marcus. She slammed the dinosaur onto the mahogany desk with a loud thwack.
"Rawr," Lily said into the microphone.
The tense silence on the video call was palpable. The international suppliers stared at the screen, entirely unsure of how to proceed.
Marcus didn't mute the microphone. He didn't shoo her away. He looked at Lily, then looked back at the screen.
"My associate makes a valid point," Marcus said, not breaking a smile. "The current deal is extinct. Four percent, gentlemen. Or the dinosaur gets it."
One of the suppliers on the screen let out a startled bark of laughter. The tension broke. Ten minutes later, the deal was signed at Marcus's preferred rate.
He closed the laptop and turned to Lily. "Good negotiating, partner."
Lily beamed, showing off a missing front tooth. "Mr. Mark, Mama says it's time for lunch. We made sandwiches. Without crusts."
May you like
"Without crusts? My favorite," Marcus said, standing up and offering his hand. Lily took it, her tiny fingers wrapping around his large ones. They walked out of the study and down the grand hallway together.
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