Chapter 8 - The Trojan SummitTo completely destroy a man who operates in the shadows, you must let him walk onto a brightly lit stage and strip him of his illusions of power in front of the entire world.
The Global Logistics Summit was the most exclusive corporate event of the year, packed with international shipping magnates, Wall Street investors, and global media. Silas Blackwood intended to use the keynote address to publicly announce the collapse of Vanguard Logistics and his triumphant takeover.
I did not hide in my office. I arrived looking like absolute, terrifying power.
I wore a sweeping, backless gown of liquid-sapphire silk that caught the ambient light like a weapon. I looked like an immortal queen coming to reclaim her stolen territory. Julian walked beside me in a razor-sharp, bespoke tuxedo, radiating the protective energy of an executioner waiting for the nod.
The ambient chatter in the grand ballroom died down instantly as we walked through the heavy brass doors. The sea of billionaires parted for us.
I spotted them immediately. Silas Blackwood and Daniel stood near the center stage, drinking champagne. When Daniel saw me walking down the center aisle, his smug smirk widened. He thought I was here to surrender.
"Eleanor," Daniel sneered loudly, ensuring the nearby journalists caught the exchange. "You actually showed up. I thought you’d be too busy filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy."
"I am never too busy to attend a funeral, Daniel," I said smoothly, stopping three feet away from them. My voice projected clearly over the silent, echoing ballroom.
Silas chuckled, adjusting his silk tie. "Brave words for a woman who just lost her Pacific fleet. The Coast Guard raid was quite a spectacle, Eleanor. Such a shame you couldn't manage your own supply chains. Sign the transfer documents, and I might let you keep your severance."
"Is that so, Silas?" Julian asked, stepping forward, his towering frame instantly dominating the space.
"Yes," Silas scoffed, looking at his platinum Rolex. "Your time is up."
"I always control the clock, Silas," I smiled, stepping entirely into his personal space, my eyes hardening into chips of diamond. I reached into my sapphire clutch and pulled out a sleek, encrypted titanium tablet. I tapped the screen once, instantly hijacking the ballroom’s massive digital AV system.
The promotional videos for Blackwood Global vanished from the massive screens lining the walls. In their place, Julian’s highly detailed, 3D digital simulation of the Taipei docks appeared.
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"You see, Silas," I said smoothly, my voice echoing through the silent, massive room, "when you bribed my dock master to plant illegal contraband on my ships, you thought you were securing your victory. You didn't realize I was recording every single keystroke."
Silas staggered backward, the color completely and utterly draining from his face. The untouchable billionaire shattered in a microsecond.
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