Marcus Chen walked into Sera's office at 8:47 AM on Friday morning carrying the quarterly financial statements that he'd spent the previous seventy-two hours attempting to salvage through creative accounting and optimistic projections. His expression told Sera everything she needed to know before he even spoke—the numbers were catastrophic, and there was no way to present them that wouldn't trigger an immediate crisis."We're in default on six major loan agreements," Marcus said entering the office, setting the thick financial report on Sera's desk. "The quarterly results show multiple violations that give our lenders the right to declare default, accelerate repayment schedules, and potentially foreclose on collateral."Sera opened the report, seeing rows of numbers highlighted in red where Shaw Realty's financial metrics had fallen below the minimum thresholds required by loan covenants. Debt-to-equity ratios that exceeded maximum allowable levels. Interest coverage ratios below min

Sarah Winters stood in the conference room at Shaw Realty's headquarters on Friday morning, surrounded by legal documents designed to drain the company's remaining resources. She'd spent the night reviewing the filings with horror, recognizing the complications and strategic timing of what could only be described as total legal warfare."We're being sued on seventeen different fronts simultaneously," Sarah told Sera, spreading the documents across the conference table. "Each lawsuit is structured to survive initial dismissal motions, require extensive discovery, and consume enormous legal resources. This isn't random litigation—this is an assault designed to destroy us through legal attrition."Sera reviewed the complaint summaries with growing dread. Class action lawsuit from tenants alleging unsafe building conditions and seeking damages plus rent reductions. Securities fraud action from shareholders claiming material misstatements in financial disclosures. Environmental lawsuit fr

Patricia Rodriguez called Sera at 6:23 AM on Tuesday morning, her voice sounded like one that was panicking that immediately signaled a major crisis. Sera had been awake for hours already, unable to sleep while waiting for Dorian's network to release whatever evidence they'd threatened to expose. The call added a new dimension of disaster she hadn't anticipated."We have a serious problem at three properties simultaneously," Patricia said. "Madison Avenue building lost all elevator service overnight—someone cut power cables in the basement mechanical room. Riverside Plaza experienced complete HVAC failure due to sabotage of the control systems. And Harbor Tower's water supply was contaminated with chemicals that triggered automatic shutoffs and health warnings."Sera felt cold dread settling as she processed the coordination. "Three separate properties, three different types of infrastructure damage, all happening simultaneously overnight. This isn't coincidence—this is coordinated sa

Elias received the formal notice at 9:47 AM on Friday morning—a letter from Sterling Investment Partners, Shaw Realty's second-largest shareholder, formally requesting a special meeting of the board of directors to consider "leadership changes necessary to restore shareholder value and organizational stability." The letter was professionally worded but its intent was unmistakable: a coordinated effort to remove Elias from his position as CEO and Chairman of the company he'd founded fifteen years earlier."This is it," Marcus said quietly, reviewing the notice in Elias's office. "The shareholder revolt we've been anticipating. Sterling holds eighteen percent of outstanding shares. If they can convince other investors to support leadership change, they have enough votes to force board action."Sera read the letter over Elias's shoulder, feeling cold fury at the calculated timing. "The stock has declined sixty-three percent from its peak—from forty-two dollars per share to fifteen doll

Marcus knocked at the office as he entered the office having a troubled look on his face."We have a problem," he said, his voice trembling. "Multiple problems, actually."Elias looked up from the acquisition proposal he'd been reviewing, his reading glasses perched on the end of his nose. Something in Marcus's expression made him set down his pen with deliberate care."Show me."Marcus laid the tablet on his desk, and Elias watched as the numbers painted a picture of creeping catastrophe. The Riverside Commons deal, their flagship development project—had hit another delay. The third quarter. But this time it wasn't weather or permits or the usual friction of large-scale construction. The general contractor had walked off the job, citing "payment concerns and irregularities in the financial documentation.""That's absurd," Elias said flatly. "Our payments have been on schedule. We have the wire confirmations.""We do. But somehow their bank is claiming they never received the last two