Chapter 10 - The Trap is Set and the Ghost from the Past
By noon, the atmosphere in the Meridian Tower penthouse had shifted from a sanctuary into a military command center.
Security protocols were elevated to DEFCON 1.
Private guards patrolled the perimeter of the forty-eighth floor, and electronic counter-surveillance sweeps were running continuously through our private communication channels.
I sat at the mahogany conference table in Lucas’s private office, staring at the flashing red security monitors on the wall.
Lucas stood by the window, staring out at the Chicago skyline, his jaw clenched so tightly a muscle twitched in his cheek.
“They’re going to come for the data drives we seized from Sterling Global,” Lucas said, his voice dangerously low.
“The physical hard drives containing their offshore accounts are locked in the sub-level three vault. If they get into that vault, they can wipe the financial records before the federal prosecutor fixes the clerical error.”
“Then we move the drives,” I said, standing up.
“We take them out of the vault and hand them directly to the DOJ task force before they can launch another legal injunction.”
“It’s too late for that,” a voice echoed from the doorway.
We both turned.
Victoria stood there, her face pale, holding a secure landline phone receiver.
“That was the sub-level three vault supervisor,” Victoria reported, her voice shaking slightly.
“The vault security system just experienced a total power override. Someone is inside the sub-level three mainframe right now.”
Lucas didn't hesitate.
He grabbed his suit jacket off the back of his chair, sliding it on despite the sharp wince in his ribs.
“Get the private elevator security override codes, Victoria,” Lucas ordered sharply.
“Bailey, you stay here.”
“Like hell I am,” I fired back, grabbing my jacket from the chair.
“You’re still recovering from a poisoned neurotoxin and cracked ribs, Lucas! If you go down to sub-level three alone, you’re walking into a trap.”
Lucas stared at me for a split second, about to argue, before realizing the stubborn determination shining in my eyes.
He let out a sharp breath.
“Fine. But you stay behind me. Every step.”
We moved down to the subterranean levels of Meridian Tower via the emergency freight elevator, accompanied by two armed security enforcers.
The air in sub-level three was cold, damp, and smelled of ozone and hot electrical wiring.
The massive steel door of the central mainframe vault stood wide open, its digital keypad blinking a pulsing, warning red light.
We stepped cautiously into the server room.
Rows of towering black server racks hummed loudly, casting flickering blue light across the concrete floor.
At the far end of the room, standing in front of the master terminal with a portable data drive plugged into the console, was a familiar figure in a dark winter coat.
Claire Vance.
She turned slowly around at our approach, holding the data drive in her hand, a triumphant, manic smile twisting her sharp features.
“Lucas,” Claire purred, stepping away from the terminal.
“I knew you’d come down to check on your precious vault.”
Lucas raised his hand, signaling the two security guards to hold their ground, stepping forward to shield me with his body.
“It’s over, Claire,” Lucas said, his voice echoing coldly off the concrete walls.
“You’re trespassing on federal evidence territory. Put the drive down.”
“Over?” Claire laughed, a high, unstable sound that echoed uncomfortably in the cavernous room.
“Lucas, you really think a few federal warrants are going to stop my family? Sterling Global has roots in this city that run deeper than your grand little skyscraper.”
She pulled a small, sleek detonator from her coat pocket, pressing her thumb against the activation button.
“The moment I click this button, the entire mainframe incinerates into slag. Every financial record, every offshore account, every piece of evidence against us—gone in three seconds.”
My eyes widened.
She wasn't just here to steal the data; she was here to destroy the entire server bank, taking half of Meridian’s digital infrastructure down with it.
“Claire, don't be an idiot,” Lucas warned, taking another slow step forward.
“You detonate that vault, and you’ll bury yourself under a hundred federal terrorism charges.”
“I’d rather rot in a federal cell than watch you win, Lucas!” Claire screamed, her face contorting with rage as she pressed her thumb hard against the detonator.
Before she could complete the click, I didn't think.
I grabbed a heavy, steel-framed diagnostic monitor off a nearby tech cart and hurled it across the room.
CRASH.
The monitor struck Claire directly in the shoulder, knocking her off balance and sending the detonator flying out of her hand across the concrete floor.
“Get her!” Lucas roared.
The two security enforcers rushed forward, tackling Claire to the ground and slapping heavy steel handcuffs onto her wrists.
I sprinted across the room, scooping up the fallen detonator and ripping the battery pack out of its back casing.
Safe.
The vault was secure.
Lucas stood over Claire as she was hauled roughly to her feet by the guards, his face a mask of cold, unforgiving granite.
“Take her to the federal holding cells,” Lucas instructed flatly.
“And make sure she stays there this time.”
As the guards dragged a screaming, kicking Claire out of the vault, Lucas exhaled a long, shaky breath, leaning against the cold metal server rack to steady himself.
I hurried over to him, my hands hovering anxiously over his chest.
“Are you okay? Did you strain your ribs?”
Lucas looked down at me, the hard, terrifying CEO melting away instantly, replaced by the man who had whispered his confessions to me in the penthouse.
He reached out, grabbing my waist and pulling me gently against his chest.
“My ribs are fine, Bailey,” he whispered, burying his face in my hair.
“You just saved my company a second time. I’m beginning to think you enjoy violence.”
May you like
“Only when it involves saving arrogant billionaires,” I murmured against his collar, smiling as the tension finally drained out of my shoulders.
The war for Meridian Tower was finally over.
