The journalist's question hung in the air, sharp and accusatory. "Mr. Damon, is it true that you leveraged insider connections at Yorkers City Bank to secure your loans? Did you receive preferential treatment due to your relationship with a senior executive?"The cameras swiveled, their lenses magnifying his every reaction. Damon could feel the weight of the accusations, the potential for his reputation to be tarnished beyond repair.Harold Golden, ever the opportunist, stepped forward, his voice laced with concern. "In light of these serious allegations, perhaps it would be best for the Golden Foundation to pause the disbursement of Mr. Damon's donation, pending a thorough review and governance clarity."The suggestion was met with a murmur of agreement from some members of the audience. Damon knew he had to act fast. A defensive speech would only fuel the fire, making him appear guilty and evasive. He needed a tactical pivot, something that would demonstrate his commitment to transp

The intrusion of the NYPD officers suddenly sent the whole room shivering, and squelching the applause and the apologetics, and everyone stared at Damon as the leading detective, who was a cold-faced stern-faced woman, with a no nonsense attitude, approached him."Damon Newton? " she said, with her voice still, "We have a warrant for your arrest on charges of financial misdemeanor against Yorkers City Bank. "Aria squeezed Damon's hand, a face filled with worry. “What is going on here? On what charges is this on?”“We are going to talk about the details at headquarters, ” the detective replied reluctantly. “Mr Newton, you’re going to have to come with us. ”Damon was shocked and fear gnawed at his inside, but he knew it was best to shake it off. "I'd like to call my lawyer, " he said sternly. “I have a right to legal representation.”“That really will not happen at this stage, ” the detective said, wincing her eyes. “You’ll get a chance to talk to the counsel later. ”“What do you mea

The wrought-iron gates were cold and intimidating as Damon’s automobile turned toward the Golden family estate – for the lawns, beautifully manicured and as long as the eye could carry, were ever-spreading, a towering display of wealth and power that made him both curious and fearful."Quite the place, huh? " Felix suggested, breaking the silence through a vague hint of suspicion.“Yeah, ” Damon said, his eyes fixed on the mansion of miles away. “It’s... a whole other thing. ”As they drove down the long, sloping driveway, Damon couldn't shake the feeling that he was headed into some other world, an other reality; he tucked his tie in, trying to give himself a sort of confidence that he just could not get.By now the car was coming to a halt in front of the great entrance. A uniformed chauffeur put his foot down, had no expression."Mr. Newton? " he asked politely, but sadly. "Mr. Golden has been expecting you.”Damon stepped out of the car, his heart pounding in his chest, he took a

A silence was broken, replaced with a torrent of voices - louder and harder than each one. The room was become hostile, the executives swirling around Damon like sharks trying to smell blood in the water."That just isn't worth it! " one executive shouted, his face red with indignation. "You have no idea what you're talking about Newton. These are completely different financial instruments than you can grasp. "“He's just trying to make himself look smart, ” another added quickly, his voice bubbling over with sarcasm. “He's throwing things at him in order to impress Mr. Golden. ”“These are unheard of accounting standards, ” a third executive asserted, filling Damon with technical jargon. “You’re just making assumptions because of the data, ” Mr. Nelson said. “You’re making conclusions that are just not true from the data.”Damon started to feel really anxious and stressed because the tidal wave of criticism was almost piling on him and now it was like he was drowning again because th

Still in Damon's ears, as he led Aria out of the mansion, the tones of the boardroom argument still surging into his ears, the air at first so opulent that it had felt so divine, but soon choked on by the bitterness and resentment that had become the music.They walked silently for a while, the tension between them as heavy as the damp summer air. At long last Damon could not let it go anymore."What was that all about Aria?? " he asked, his voice bitter and frustrated. "That whole fight with your father... I felt like I was in some sort of family quarrel. "Aria stopped walking, her face clouding with anger. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice defensive."I mean,, " Damon said, "I didn't come here to be a pawn in your battle with your father. I came here to prove myself, to prove him that I'm worthy of you, but I just felt like you were using me to make a point, to get at him. "Aria watched in horror, her eyes wide, "That's not fair Damon! " she roared. “You think I gave you a