Robert woke up to explosive notifications on his phone. The gala photographs had gone viral overnight.Every major gossip site. Every business publication."New Power Couple? Billionaires in Charity Gala.”His phone rang. Dave calling."Get over here." Dave said. "Now."Robert drove to the apartment of Dave. His friend opened the door in a furious way."Have you lost your mind?" Dave asked."Good morning to you too." Robert said."Don't." Dave said. "Those photos are everywhere. This morning Roxanne came crying to me.”"She called you?" Robert asked."Yes." Dave said. "Because she can't trust you right now.""I'm not choosing anyone." Robert said. "It was one dance.""That lasted three songs." Dave said. "I counted. Someone posted video."Robert cursed. "There's video?"Dave pulled out his phone. Showed Robert. Someone had recorded them dancing. Multiple angles.Diana appeared beautiful in the video. Robert looked comfortable. Like he was enjoying himself."I was just being polite." R

At seven AM, Robert and his legal staff met in the conference room. Marcus looked exhausted. He spent the entire night going through papers.“We are now fighting on two fronts.” Marcus said. Scattering papers on the table. "The environmental lawsuit and the corporate espionage case against Victoria.""Can we handle both?" Robert asked."We have to." Marcus said. “The lawyers of Victoria are clever. They are leveraging the environmental chaos.”"How?" Dave asked.“They are claiming that the credibility of Robert is questionable.” Marcus explained. “That the stability of Zenco is at risk. They are informing the court that it is more difficult to rule against a Castellano when the plaintiff himself is dealing with fire in his own house.”Robert's jaw clenched. "That's brilliant. And dirty.""It's both." Marcus agreed. “They are building a reasonable doubt without really justifying the actions of Victoria.”"What about our evidence?" Robert asked. "The spy we caught? The recordings?""Sti

Dave then took three days to trace the money. Spreadsheets. Bank records. Registration of shell companies.At two AM he sat in Robert's office. Eyes red from staring at screens."Found something." Dave said.Robert raised his eyes out of his own work. "What?""The environmental group. Green Earth Alliance." Dave pulled up documents. “Their first sources of funding were a shell company. Island registration. Standard stuff.""We knew that already." Robert said."Yeah. But I went deeper." Dave said. “Tracked the shell company through three layers. Found the original source.""And?" Robert asked.“It is a company that had a business with the Castellano family two years ago.” Dave said. "Different deal. Completely unrelated. But equal financial structure. Same lawyer setting it up."Robert leaned forward. “You mean that Victoria used a dead shell company to finance the lawsuit on the environment?”"Not exactly." Dave said. "She used the same lawyer. Same methods. Same hiding patterns. It's

Robert learned about the affair Diana had with Roxanne three days later. Not from Roxanne. From Dave.“Something was sent to me, by my contact at the hotel.” Dave said. Presenting Robert with a security video.The video showed Diana and Roxanne. In the private lounge. Talking intensely."When was this?" Robert asked."The charity event." Dave said. "Three nights ago."Robert's jaw clenched. "Roxanne told me she went but she didn't tell me about this.""Maybe she didn't want to worry you." Dave said.“Or maybe something Diana said got to her.” Robert said.Robert approached Roxanne that evening. Gently.“Dave showed me some recording of the charity event.” Robert said. "You talked to Diana."Roxanne's expression closed. "Yes.""Why didn't you tell me?" Robert asked."Because it wasn't important." Roxanne said."You spent twenty minutes with her." Robert said. "In a private room. That seems important.""We just talked." Roxanne said. Defensive."About what?" Robert asked.Roxanne was qu

Victoria was informed of Earl Dupont at three PM. She was informed personally by her assistant."He flipped." The assistant said. "Went to the FBI. The lawsuit's been withdrawn."Victoria's face remained calm. But her pen was clenched in her hand so much that it broke."Leave." She said quietly.The assistant left quickly.Victoria was sitting in her office by herself. Staring at nothing.Months of planning had been ruined by Earl Dupont. Millions of dollars. A perfect strategy.She picked up her phone. Contacted the law firm of the case."Why wasn't I informed Earl was wavering?" Victoria demanded."We didn't know." The lawyer said. "He gave no indication. Just showed up with the FBI.""Someone got to him." Victoria said."Robert Jackson." The lawyer confirmed. "They met the morning of the hearing.""How?" Victoria asked. "How did Robert get to know him?""We don't know." The lawyer admitted.Victoria hung up. Thought carefully.Robert had been told about Earl by somebody. Somebody w