Now it's about Marcus. The tone shift was immediate. Professional polish dropping away. "What did you find?" "Evidence that's going to end his campaign permanently, but we need to secure it before he realizes it exists.
Victoria arrived at the penthouse 47 minutes later with Jennifer Chen and two associates carrying equipment that looked designed for digital forensics. They spent 3 hours photographing documents, verifying authenticity through cross-referencing with public records, constructing legal case that would survive challenges from expensive defense lawyers. Jennifer's expression was grim satisfaction. This is federal embezzlement. If these documents are authentic, Marcus is facing decades in prison.
They're real. Victoria's voice was hollow. I recognize some of these accounts. Marcus used to handle executive compensation reviews before I became CEO. He had access to shell companies we use for legitimate tax optimization.
He just she stopped processing. He weaponized that access. How did these documents end up mixed in with Lily's school enrollment forms? Jennifer's question was sharp, suspicious. I don't know.
Victoria shook her head. I grabbed a stack of files from my home office. Must have picked up the wrong folder. That's incredibly fortunate timing. Or incredibly unfortunate for Marcus.
Ethan looked between them. Does it matter how we found them? The point is we have them. What do we do now? Jennifer closed her tablet.
Now we verify everything before going public because if we're wrong, he'll sue for defamation and win. By Friday evening, they'd verified enough documentation to approach federal prosecutors. Jennifer had contacts at the U.S. Attorney's Office who specialized in financial crimes. Saturday morning, three FBI agents arrived at the penthouse to interview Victoria about Marcus' access to Sterling Capital's financial systems. They were professional, thorough, asked questions that made clear they were taking the allegations seriously, but they also made clear that investigation would take time.
Marcus wouldn't be arrested immediately, which meant he was still out there, still dangerous, still capable of anything. Sunday morning, Ethan found out exactly how dangerous. Marcus showed up at 8:23 a.m. He bypassed building security somehow, made it to the 41st floor, started pounding on Victoria's door while Ethan was making breakfast, and Victoria was reading to Lily in the living room. His voice carried through the door. Rage barely controlled beneath volume that suggested he'd been drinking or was having breakdown or both.
I know you have them. Whatever documents you think you found, they're fake. You're trying to frame me because you can't handle that. I've been beating you legitimately. Victoria stood frozen, face draining of color.
Lily looked up from her book with expressions showing she'd registered the adult fear. even if she didn't understand its cause. Ethan moved toward the door. He pulled out his phone, started recording before opening it because every instinct from emergency response training said document everything when situations escalated. Marcus was disheveled when the door opened. Suit wrinkled, hair uncomed, eyes carrying manic energy that suggested someone who'd lost control of narrative he thought he'd been managing.