All Chapters of The Consortium Behind Your Collapse: Chapter 11
- Chapter 20
73 chapters
The Celebration
The champagne cost twelve thousand dollars per bottle, and they were serving it like water.Julian watched from across the street, standing in the shadow of a building that gave him a perfect view into the Adam Industries penthouse suite. . Crystal chandeliers threw light across the crowd. Waiters in white gloves circulated with trays of caviar and imported delicacies. A string quartet played in the corner, their music inaudible from Julian's position but visible in the elegant movements of their bows.Julian's phone buzzed. A text from Ethan: "Are you certain you want to watch this?"He typed back: "Every second of it."The party had started an hour ago. Victoria's Instagram live stream had been running since the first guest arrived, her phone held high as she narrated the event like a sports commentator calling a championship game.Julian pulled up the stream on his own phone. Victoria's face filled the screen, her makeup perfect, and her smile sharp enough to cut glass."And we're
Last Updated : 2026-01-11
The Countdown Continued
The email arrived at 9:47 AM on a Tuesday, and it destroyed Raymond Adam's morning in exactly three sentences.Raymond was in his office reviewing quarterly projections when his assistant knocked twice and entered without waiting for permission. The expression on Jennifer's face told him everything he needed to know before she opened her mouth. She'd been working for Raymond for six years, and in that time, he'd never seen her look quite so pale."Sir," Jennifer said. "David from Titanforge Construction is on line two. He says it's urgent."Raymond set down his coffee. Titanforge Construction was Adam Industries' largest client, responsible for nearly two hundred million dollars in annual revenue. They'd been partners for eight years."Did he say what it's about?" Raymond asked."He wouldn't tell me. Just said he needed to speak with you directly."Raymond picked up the phone and pressed line two. "David. Good morning. What can I do for you?"There was a pause on the other end, long e
Last Updated : 2026-01-12
The Restaurant humiliation
Diane Fletcher's text message came at 11:23 AM."Fine. Lunch today."Julian stared at his phone screen, reading those three words over and over. He'd sent seventeen messages to his old colleagues over the past two days, requesting to meet for coffee or lunch.Sixteen people had ignored him completely. Diane was the only one who'd responded.They'd worked together five years ago on a mixed-use development project in Brooklyn. Diane was a structural engineer, and Julian had respected that about her. He'd thought maybe, just maybe, she'd be willing to hear his side of the story."Marcello's at 1 PM," Diane's second text read. "Don't be late."Marcello's was an upscale Italian restaurant in midtown.Julian pulled his remaining one suit from the tiny closet in his studio apartment. It was wrinkled from being crammed between his other clothes, and there was a small stain on the sleeve . He pressed it as best he could with a towel and hot water from the bathroom sink.At 12:45 PM, Julian sto
Last Updated : 2026-01-13
Recused
The email from Sterling Bank arrived at 6:47 AM, precisely thirteen minutes before Raymond Adam's first cup of coffee.He was still in his apartment when his phone started ringing, Victor's name flashing on the screen. Raymond answered while simultaneously trying to button his shirt with one hand."Tell me you've seen it," Victor said."Seen what?""Check your email. The one from Sterling Bank. Then get to the office immediately."The line went dead.Raymond opened his email with his shaky fingers. The message from Sterling Bank sat at the top of his inbox, marked urgent with a red exclamation point.Subject: Temporary Hold on Line of Credit – Action RequiredRaymond's stomach dropped before he finished reading the subject line. He clicked it open.Sterling Bank regretted to inform Adam Industries that due to routine verification procedures, their primary line of credit would be temporarily frozen pending the completion of a comprehensive financial review. The review would take approx
Last Updated : 2026-01-14
Phase Two Begins
The phone call came from a number Julian did not recognize, and he almost did not answer."Mr. Blackwood?" The voice on the other end was female."My name is Sarah Chen. I am a senior producer at National Business Report. Do you have a moment to talk?"Julian sat up on his threadbare couch. National Business Report was respected journalism, not tabloid gossip or social media rumor. They had won Emmy awards. Their investigative reporting had exposed corrupt politicians and corporate fraud. If anyone could tell his story fairly, it would be them."I am listening," Julian said."I have been following your case since the story broke, and honestly, something does not add up. The narrative the Adams are pushing feels too clean, and too convenient. I would like to give you an opportunity to tell your side of the story."Julian's chest tightened."Why would you do that?" he asked. "Everyone else has already decided I am guilty.""Because I do not believe in determining guilt without hearing al
Last Updated : 2026-01-15
His Grandfather's Heir.
The phone rang at 3:47 AM, shattering the fragile sleep Julian had finally managed to find.He reached for it in the darkness, knocking over a glass of water that had been sitting on his nightstand for three days. The caller ID showed a number he hadn't seen in three years.Patricia Blackwood.Julian's finger hovered over the answer button for three rings before he finally pressed it."Aunt Patricia," he said, his voice rough from sleep."Julian." Her voice came through clear and precise, exactly as he remembered. Patricia had always sounded like she was addressing a boardroom even when she was ordering coffee. "I hope I didn't wake you.""It's almost four in the morning.""I'm in London. The time difference always escapes me." A pause, and Julian could hear traffic in the background, the sound of a British city at rush hour. "I saw the interview."Julian sat up, suddenly wide awake despite the hour. "Everyone saw the interview.""Yes, well, everyone else is an idiot. I saw what they
Last Updated : 2026-01-16
The Architecture of Collapse
The envelope arrived on a Tuesday morning, delivered by a courier at exactly 9:00 AM. The timing felt deliberate, a calculated strike designed to catch Raymond at the height of his morning rush.Raymond was already drowning in a cascade of minor disasters. The situation with the bank remained a stagnant mess, three major vendors had suddenly pivoted to demanding immediate cash payments over their standard credit terms, and he had just spent forty-five minutes pacifying a major shareholder whose tone had shifted from curious to accusatory. By the time Jennifer knocked on his door, clutching a thick envelope stamped with the words URGENT and LEGAL NOTICE in aggressive red ink, Raymond was nearing his breaking point."What is it now?" he asked, his voice sharp with an irritation he no longer bothered to mask."A courier just dropped this off. It required a physical signature." Jennifer placed the envelope on his mahogany desk . "It’s from Zenith Property Management."The name sat heavily
Last Updated : 2026-01-17
The Trojan Architect
The Instagram post went live at 7:32 PM, a calculated strike timed to hit the feeds of both coasts during the peak of digital engagement.Blake Morrison’s account carried the weight of three million followers and a verified blue checkmark, but the photograph it displayed made the evening coffee in Julian’s mouth turn to a dry, bitter ash. Blake and Eleanor stood together on the penthouse balcony, the exact spot where Julian had knelt three years prior to offer her a future built on the foundations of honesty and shared ambition. The sunset behind them was perfect, bleeding gold and crimson across the skyline.Eleanor was smiling with a radiance that Julian had not witnessed before. Blake’s arm was wrapped firmly around her waist. It was a public declaration, broadcast to a massive audience that would accept exactly the narrative Blake chose to feed them.The caption beneath the photo was a masterclass in sentimentality. It claimed that the most beautiful things often grew from the wre
Last Updated : 2026-01-18
Thirty-Four Days of Grace
The air inside the diner was thick with the scent of old grease and burnt coffee grounds. It was the kind of heavy, unpretentious atmosphere Julian had come to rely on over the past two weeks.Sal’s Corner Grill was a narrow wedge of a building squeezed between a busy laundromat and a dusty pawn shop. It was the sort of place that stayed in business because its regulars didn’t care about lighting or the aesthetic of their plates. The booths were covered in cracked, red vinyl that stuck to your clothes, the floor tiles were chipped and uneven, and the menus were coated in a thin layer of grime that suggested they hadn't been cleaned since the eighties. Despite the decay, the food was cheap and the portions were large. Most importantly, it was usually a place where a man could disappear.At least, that was the case until tonight.Julian pushed through the heavy glass door at 6:47 PM. His stomach was knotted with hunger; he had spent the entire day locked in his apartment, staring at the
Last Updated : 2026-01-19
Feeding On The Corpse
Julian didn't answer. He tried to sidestep them, hoping to slip through the door and disappear into the night, but Blake moved quickly to block his path."Don't rush off just because we showed up," Blake said, glancing around the room to make sure he had an audience. "We're all friends here, right? At least, you were part of the family once. Before everything fell apart.""Excuse me," Julian said, his voice a steady."Actually, I don't think I will excuse you." Blake’s smile grew wider and meaner. "Eleanor was just telling me about this place. She said it was real, a spot where hard-working people eat. We thought we’d come down and connect with the community. And here you are, Julian, proving that this really is the bottom of the barrel."A few people at the counter let out a jagged laugh. Eleanor’s face turned a deep, embarrassed red. She kept her eyes fixed on a point somewhere over Julian’s shoulder, refusing to meet his gaze.Sal spoke up from behind the counter, his tone suddenly
Last Updated : 2026-01-20