The old grandfather clock in the study ticked loudly. The heavy sound echoed through the quiet house. George Edward sat at his home computer desk. The bright glow of the monitor lit up his tired and wrinkled face. A green loading bar filled the screen inch by inch. He had used his old administrator security codes to access the secure company archives. It felt very risky. His heart beat fast against his ribs. He knew if Arthur caught him doing this, the consequences would be severe. He felt he had no other choice.The download finished with a soft chime. George let out a heavy breath he had been holding for several minutes. He quickly dragged the extracted files into an encrypted folder on a small portable drive. These files contained the private bidding limits and logistics plans for the new commercial port project. He pulled the drive from the computer port and slipped it deep into his jacket pocket.The wooden door to the study opened slowly. Seraphina stood there in her silk robe.

The heavy wooden doors of City Hall swung shut. They could not block the loud noise of the angry reporters outside. George Edward walked as fast as his old legs could carry him. He wanted to reach his car and hide from the world. He did not make it.Two large men in dark suits stepped in front of him. They blocked his path to the parking lot. Marcus Vanguard walked up behind George. Marcus looked like a man ready to commit murder."Did you really think you could walk away from this, George?" Marcus asked. His voice was a dangerous and quiet whisper. "You set me up. You fed me fake data to drain my funds.""I did not know!" George pleaded. His hands shook wildly. "Arthur tricked both of us! I swear to you, Marcus. I thought the files were real."Marcus grabbed George by the collar of his cheap suit. He pulled the older man close. "You cost me two point four billion dollars today. My investors are going to ruin me. I want the ten million I paid you returned to my account by midnight. If

The morning sun rose over the city. It cast a bright light across the tall glass buildings. Inside the top floor office of Apex Horizon Group, Arthur York stood by the large window. He held a cup of dark coffee. The large television on the wall played the morning news. The headlines were bold and loud."Shocking collapse in the financial district," the news anchor announced. "George Edward, former head of Edward Enterprises, was arrested late last night on charges of extortion and kidnapping. In a related event, federal agents raided the Vanguard Group headquarters. Marcus Vanguard is currently in federal custody for corporate espionage."Arthur took a slow sip of his coffee. The taste was bitter and rich. Five years of planning had finally come to an end. The people who threw him into a dark cell were now heading to cages of their own. He felt a deep sense of peace. The heavy weight on his chest was finally gone.Elias walked into the office. He held his usual digital tablet. He look

Arthur placed the black card on his desk. The red wax seal looked like dried blood under the bright office lights. Elias stood nearby. He looked at the card with a tight and worried jaw."The Emperor Circle," Elias said quietly. "They're a myth to most regular people in the financial district. They control the shadow economy of the capital. They own politicians, judges, and foreign trade routes."Arthur didn't look worried at all. He sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. "They aren't a myth anymore. They sent a courier directly to our front door. They're upset because I took their favorite toy.""George Edward," Elias realized."Exactly," Arthur replied. "George wasn't smart enough to build Edward Enterprises alone. He had hidden backers. The Circle used his shipping lanes to move their own illegal cargo across the eastern borders. By seizing the company and taking the port, I completely cut off their supply lines.""Going to this midnight gala is a giant trap," Elias warned

The guards held Seraphina's arms with a firm, painful grip. Her damp shoes left small pools of muddy water on the immaculate marble floor. The wealthy guests stepped back, watching her with a mixture of disgust and dark amusement. To them, she was a broken piece of trash ruining a beautiful evening. Arthur didn't move. He stood next to Alistair Vance, his posture straight and his hands resting inside his trouser pockets. He didn't look angry, surprised, or concerned. When he looked at Seraphina, his eyes were just empty. The woman who had shared his bed and his dreams was gone. In her place was a reminder of a past he had already buried. "Let her go," Arthur said. His voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the whispers of the room like a sharp blade. The two guards looked at Alistair Vance, waiting for a signal. Alistair gave a slight nod. The guards released their grip, pushing Seraphina forward. She stumbled, nearly falling to her knees before she managed to steady herself. She ru