Chapter 5

I gripped my phone tight. The memory of the freezing cold divorce papers made my fingers tremble.

In my past life, this stunt wiped out half of Sterling Group's market cap overnight.

I took a deep breath, pushing down the anger, and walked back to my desk.

Harvey rushed in, his voice shaking.

"Chloe! Finance is in complete chaos!"

"Leo, the finance director, realized how bad the numbers were and tried to recall the emails."

"But Julian had IT lock him out of the server, claiming he was committing corporate sabotage! He was escorted out by security and fired on the spot!"

I slammed my fist on the desk.

Firing the only people telling the truth?

Julian had lost his mind.

"Chloe, the entire finance department is being forced to execute the blind box contracts!"

Harvey’s eyes were red.

"Those numbers are a death sentence. The breach of contract fees alone will bankrupt us!"

"Please, do something! Let's release our Vance Group independent valuation sheet to the press!"

I closed my eyes, my voice like iron.

"Release it? With what authority?"

"Julian has locked down all server permissions. If we upload anything now, we'll be flagged for unauthorized data breaches."

"So we just watch the ship sink?" Harvey shouted, his voice cracking.

"Vance Group will not be collateral damage."

I opened my eyes, cold and focused.

"Harvey, protect our team. Lock our legal firewalls."

"If anyone from Julian’s side tries to touch our assets, sue them immediately."

Before Harvey could reply, loud arguing erupted outside.

Wyatt, the VP of Strategic Investment, was practically thrown into my office.

His suit was stained with spilled coffee, his tie torn, and a scratch ran down his cheek.

"Chloe, please save us!"

Wyatt gasped, gripping the edge of my desk.

"Julian called me a traitor. He's removing me from the board!"

"I don't care about my job, but there are dozens of people in operations who worked day and night on this! Now they're all going to be ruined!"

I stood up and handed him a bottle of water.

Wyatt was a good, honest man. In my past life, he stayed up three nights straight helping me clean up Julian's mess without a single complaint.

And now, he was reduced to this.

"Wyatt, listen to me," I whispered.

"If I step in now, even my corporate token can't save anyone. Julian has bypassed the board."

"Vance Group is our final stronghold. Stay quiet, and I will protect you and your core team."

Wyatt stared at me, his lips trembling, before he finally let out a long, defeated sigh and bowed his head.

"Harvey, take him out through the back elevator. Don't let anyone see him."

In the hallway, the loud voice of Julian’s executive assistant echoed:

"By order of the CEO, we are conducting an internal audit for corporate spies! All departments must comply!"

I adjusted my blazer and stepped out of my office, coming face-to-face with the arrogant assistant.

"Ms. Vance, have you seen Wyatt?"

I stared at him with absolute disdain.

"Do you think you have the security clearance to search my office?"

The assistant hesitated, intimidated by my tone.

"Mr. Sterling’s orders. Anyone harboring a traitor will be treated as an accomplice."

"If you are protecting Wyatt, you are defying the executive board!"

I took a step forward, my presence forcing him to take a step back.

"Go tell Julian that Vance Group only answers to our partnership agreement, not his childish tantrums."

"If you take one more step into my wing, my lawyers will have a harassment lawsuit on your desk before you can walk back to the elevator."

The assistant swallowed hard and scurried away.

Julian was burning his own house down, and no one could stop him.

Just as I sat back down, Harvey's phone rang.

He picked it up, and within seconds, all the color drained from his face.

"Chloe... it's over."

"The offshore regulators just stepped in. They are launching an international fraud investigation against Julian!"

"Julian has just been detained for questioning!"