Chapter 6 - The Fall of the Dynasty
Panic erupted in the grand ballroom.
Board members stood up, shouting demands for answers. Stock traders on their phones began wildly executing sell orders as the Almeida Enterprises stock price plunged on live television.
Julian bolted toward the backstage emergency exit.
"Stop him!" someone shouted.
Julian shoved past a backstage manager, threw open the heavy emergency door, and ran out into the alleyway behind the hotel—only to freeze dead in his tracks.
Standing in the rain-slicked alleyway were four Chicago police cruisers, their red and blue lights flashing silently against the brick walls.
Standing in front of the center cruiser was State Prosecutor Helen Vance—Arthur Vance's estranged elder sister, the woman who had spent five years trying to bust corporate corruption in the city.
"Julian Almeida," Prosecutor Vance said, holding up a thick manila folder. "Your attorney, Arthur, just spent the last twenty minutes spilling his guts to my investigators in exchange for a plea deal. Handcuff him."
Julian dropped to his knees in the dirty alley, crying pathetic tears as the cold steel handcuffs clicked around his wrists.
Inside the ballroom, the chaos slowly settled into an eerie, heavy quiet.
Thiago sat at the front of the stage. The board members were gathered around his wheelchair, bowing their heads, whispering apologies, begging for forgiveness, promising to restore him immediately as CEO.
Thiago didn't look at any of them.
He slowly turned his chair to face me and Samuel.
"Maya," Thiago said, reaching into his suit pocket. He pulled out a worn, leather-bound notebook with torn edges.
My breath caught. I recognized it instantly.
It was David's work journal—the book he carried everywhere, the book that had disappeared the day he died.
"The police recovered this from Arthur Vance’s personal safe twenty minutes ago," Thiago said, handing it up to me. "It contains every blueprint, every calculation, and every piece of evidence David gathered to protect the people of this city. Your husband wasn't just an engineer, Maya. He was the bravest man I ever met."
I clutched the leather book against my chest, tears spilling down my face as I squeezed my eyes shut. For six agonizing years, the world had called my husband's death an accident caused by negligence. Now, his honor was restored.
Samuel looked up at Thiago, his little eyes wide. "Is Uncle Julian going to jail now?"
"Yes, Samuel," Thiago said gently, reaching out to gently pat my son's head. "He will never hurt anyone again."
"Good," Samuel said, nodding like a wise old man. "My mom says bad people have to learn their lessons so their hearts can get better."
A few board members let out emotional snickers, wiping their eyes.
Thiago looked at the crowd of powerful executives staring at him, then turned back to Samuel.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Thiago announced, his voice echoing through the silent hall. "Effective immediately, fifty-one percent of all voting shares in Almeida Enterprises are being transferred into an irrevocable trust."
The lead board member gasped. "Thiago... that's controlling interest of a twelve-billion-dollar conglomerate! Who is the trustee?!"
May you like
Thiago laid his hand on Samuel's small shoulder.
"Samuel Carter," Thiago said firmly. "And his mother, Maya Carter, will serve as sole executor until he comes of age."
