Chapter 6 - The Trap Closes
The red emergency lights inside the panic room cast a harsh, bloody glow over the reinforced steel walls.
Maya sat on the narrow bench, watching Julian as he furiously typed commands into the master console, overriding the penthouse’s digital locks.
"Viktor wasn't just a hired hand," Julian muttered, his fingers flying across the glowing keyboard.
"He’s Eleanor’s personal fixer. If he was in this penthouse, it means our security protocols have been compromised from the inside out."
"How is that possible?" Maya asked, her voice tight with tension.
"My mother bought everyone," Julian said bitterly.
"The guards, the accountants, the lawyers. She built a fortress of sycophants who would do anything to protect the Sterling legacy."
Suddenly, the console beeped angrily, flashing a bright yellow warning sign.
*SYSTEM BREACH: MAIN SERVERS COMPROMISED.*
"Damn it," Julian cursed, slamming his hand against the desk.
"They're wiping the offshore accounts. If they transfer the remaining capital before the courts freeze the assets, we’ll be left with nothing."
"Can you stop them?" Maya asked, stepping up behind him.
"I can," Julian said, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the screen.
"But I have to access the mainframe manually from the server room downstairs in the basement. The remote override has been disabled."
Maya’s breath caught in her throat.
"Julian, no. If Viktor has people inside the building, the basement is a trap."
"If I don't go down there, they steal every penny of the company reserves, and we’ll be tied up in litigation for the next twenty years while my mother walks free," Julian explained, turning to look at her with absolute seriousness.
"I have to go."
Maya stared at him for a long, agonizing moment.
She saw the fierce determination in his eyes, the same look he had when he jumped into the freezing ocean to save her life.
She knew she couldn't stop him.
"Take me with you," Maya said firmly.
Julian shook his head.
"No. It’s too dangerous."
"Julian, you need someone watching your six while you’re locked into the mainframe," Maya argued, stepping closer, grabbing the lapels of his jacket.
"You can't watch the doors and type at the same time. I’m going with you."
Julian looked into her eyes, searching for any sign of hesitation.
Finding none, he let out a harsh sigh, pulled her close, and kissed her hard on the lips.
"Stay behind me no matter what," Julian whispered fiercely, handing her a small, sleek Glock he had retrieved from the panic room safe.
"Can you shoot it?"
"I grew up upstate with a hunting father, Julian," Maya said, clicking off the safety with practiced ease.
"I know how to handle a gun."
Julian nodded once.
He popped the heavy steel door of the panic room open.
May you like
The hallway outside was dead silent, bathed in the dim red glow of emergency backup power.
They moved like ghosts, stepping out onto the plush carpet, their senses heightened to every creak of the old building.
