CHAPTER 9: THE GALA EXPOSURE
Arthur Sterling’s annual charity gala was held at the top floor of the multi-million-dollar Sterling Tower. The room was a sea of black tuxedos, silk gowns, diamond necklaces, and expensive champagne. Classical music drifted through the air. Arthur stood near the ice sculpture, raising a glass to a group of local politicians and city executives. He looked untouchable. A king in his concrete castle. Then, the music stopped. Not abruptly. The audio simply faded out into a low, digital hum. The massive projection screens behind the main stage—intended to show a promotional video for Sterling Global—suddenly turned black. A single line of text appeared in white: STERLING GLOBAL LOGISTICS: THE TWENTY-YEAR PAPER TRAIL. The ballroom fell into a sudden, suffocating silence. Arthur Sterling set his glass down, his face hardening as he turned toward the screens. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded to his assistant. Then, a voice filled the room. Preston’s voice. Recorded clearly from the prison visitation archive.
