Chapter 9 - The House of Cards Collapses
The final chapter for Dominic was written in federal court.
While I was building an empire, he was facing the consequences of his.
The SEC investigation concluded.
The evidence I had provided was irrefutable.
Dominic Vale was indicted on six counts of wire fraud, embezzlement, and corporate malfeasance.
Arthur Sterling also testified against him, ensuring Dominic had no way out.
The trial was a media spectacle, but I didn't attend a single day.
I didn't need to see him in handcuffs to know I had won.
On the day of the verdict, I was in my office, reviewing a proposal to open a new resort in Kyoto.
My assistant turned on the television in the corner.
The news anchor looked grave.
“Former hospitality CEO Dominic Vale has been found guilty on all charges. He has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison.”
I watched the screen for exactly ten seconds.
They showed a clip of him being led out of the courthouse. He looked older, broken, a shadow of the man who had walked into my hospital room in a tuxedo demanding I sign away my voice.
I turned the television off.
I signed the Kyoto proposal.
I didn't feel a rush of adrenaline. I didn't feel the need to celebrate.
I just felt clean.
The rot had been excised from my life.
That evening, I drove home to my townhouse.
The house was warm. The smell of dinner was coming from the kitchen.
I walked upstairs to the nursery.
Maya was standing up in her crib, holding the railing, giggling when she saw me.
I picked her up and held her tight against my chest.
She didn't know the war that had been fought for her.
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She didn't know the dragons her mother had to slay so she could sleep peacefully in her bed.
And she would never have to know.
