“No, Mr. Covington, I don't think I will,” Victor countered, his voice suddenly hardening into a razor-sharp edge. He leaned forward, planting both forearms on the table. “You ruined my family's firm, Gerald. You pushed my father out of the board of directors when his health was failing, you manipulated his signature on the 2018 liquidity buyout, and you left him with nothing while you built your glittering empire on top of his life's work. I promised myself the day he died that I would take everything from you—not by breaking the law like you do, but by watching you trip over your own staggering arrogance. And tonight, you tripped over a waitress because you couldn't resist the urge to look down on someone whose shoes weren't as expensive as yours.” The dining room around them was so quiet that the faint clinking of cutlery from the kitchen doors sounded like thunder. Manager Daniel Brooks stood nearby, hands clasped behind his back, making no move to intervene or ask the men to leave; he had recognized the shifting tectonic plates of corporate power long before the second discrepancy had been uncovered, and he knew better than to interfere with a sinking titan.
Mr. Shu slowly stood up from his chair, smoothing the front of his silk tie with agonizing deliberation. His wife rose beside him, her expression composed, entirely unreadable, yet radiating an aura of untouchable dignity. “Mr. Covington,” Mr. Shu said quietly, looking down at the billionaire as if he were looking at something unpleasant he had accidentally stepped in on the sidewalk. “Our legal department will review these documents in full by eight o'clock tomorrow morning. If even half of what Mr. Hale has presented here is substantiated by the bank records, not only will our investment be withdrawn immediately, but we will initiate a joint criminal referral with the federal prosecutor's office before noon.” Gerald lunged forward, his hands slamming flat against the table once more, though this time his knees were visibly shaking. “Wait—Mr. Shu, please! We can renegotiate the terms right now! We can adjust the clauses, we can waive the forfeiture penalties, we can—!” “We can do nothing,” Mr. Shu interrupted, his tone final and absolute. He turned his attention to Whitney, offering a polite, respectful bow of his head. “Miss Sawyer. Thank you for your extraordinary linguistic assistance this evening. Your grandmother raised a remarkable woman.”